Pakistan may be set to move former Prime Minister Imran Khan from Adiala Jail due to ongoing, intense protests by his supporters. The former premier’s party, PTI, has been vocal in its opposition following a recent incident where Khan’s family and lawyers were denied visitation, leading to confrontations outside the prison.
Officials in Punjab are reportedly close to deciding on a new location for Khan, with District Jail Attock being considered. This decision is being made in coordination with federal government officials. A government spokesperson highlighted the disruption caused to local residents by the persistent demonstrations and suggested that some within the PTI might be pushing for a transfer. The spokesperson also alleged that the protests are being used as a cover to deliberately create disorder.
The immediate trigger for the latest protests was the denial of access to Khan for his sisters and legal team on Tuesday. This led to a demonstration outside Adiala Jail, which was eventually dispersed by police employing water cannons and confiscating vehicles. The PTI has strongly condemned the authorities’ actions, asserting that the family was denied access despite legal entitlements. They described the use of water cannons against women in the cold as ‘inhumane’ and accused the government of denying Khan his basic prisoner entitlements.
This situation unfolds against a backdrop of recent strong criticism from the Pakistani military. Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhary, DG ISPR, publicly accused Imran Khan of orchestrating a media onslaught against the armed forces. He characterized Khan as suffering from a ‘narcissistic’ and ‘mentally sick’ condition, warning that such actions were unacceptable. The DG ISPR suggested that Khan’s behavior stemmed from an ego-driven delusion and an inflated sense of his own importance, particularly in light of his continuous detention since August 2023.