PTI leaders showed up at Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi on Thursday after skipping visits for two straight weeks. The party sent a fresh list of six senior members to meet its founder Imran Khan, yet jail authorities turned them away once more.
On Wednesday, PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja submitted the names to the jail superintendent. The list included Raja himself along with Humayun Mohmand, Ali Muhammad Khan, Sahibzada Sibghatullah, Mehboob Shah, and Ali Bukhari. All six leaders reached the prison and waited patiently for two-and-a-half hours. However, officials did not allow any meeting with Imran Khan.
This development comes after growing criticism within the party over the recent absence of top leaders on court-allowed visiting days. The Islamabad High Court has permitted Imran Khan two meetings per week — on Tuesdays and Thursdays — with family, lawyers, and associates. While Imran’s sisters continue their regular Tuesday visits, party leaders faced repeated denials and had stayed away for the previous two Thursdays.
Salman Akram Raja subsequently commented on the matter, expressing disappointment. It was confirmed that the party will move to the Supreme Court yet again to claim the right of its leaders to visit Imran Khan. The case still awaits a resolution since October 2025; however, Salman Raja appealed to Chief Justice Yahya Afridi to consider the petition as quickly as possible.
The current attempt emphasizes how difficult it is for PTI leaders to reach out to their founder after several court decisions. Thousands of party members were following the situation and waiting for good news. The rejection became one more step towards frustration.
Once again, the current situation illustrates the complexity of political prisoners in Pakistan and problems with visiting rights. PTI supporters hope for clear guidelines from the party leaders in the near future.
