PTI founder's sister alleges 'unprecedented restrictions' in jail

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan’s sister, Aleema Khan, has raised serious concerns about his detention conditions, suggesting there are fears he may have been poisoned.

Speaking to media outside the Anti-Terrorism Court in Lahore, she said Imran Khan is being held in strict isolation under what she described as unusually harsh conditions for a political leader.

She added that the family and PTI leadership have not been granted meaningful access or briefings regarding matters related to the party founder.

Aleema Khan further said that if her concerns are viewed as interference in party affairs, she and her family would still continue to speak out.

She also criticised certain PTI figures, saying some individuals had benefited electorally from Imran Khan’s name but had not contributed effectively to the party’s cause.

Commenting on recent political developments, she expressed cautious optimism about possible improvement in the situation, while questioning the credibility of talks with leadership that, in her view, cannot respond without approval from higher authorities.

She referred to PTI leader Sohail Afridi, stating that he had warned of staging a sit-in outside Parliament if a joint parliamentary session was called.

Aleema Khan added that Afridi himself was not facing difficulties and said she believed that if Pakistan’s 250 million citizens united for their rights, the country’s problems could be resolved.

Earlier, the Anti-Terrorism Court extended the interim bail of Aleema Khan, Uzma Khan, Asad Umar, Fawad Chaudhry, Azam Swati, and other PTI leaders until July 9 in cases linked to the May 9 incidents.

The court directed both prosecution and defence teams to present their arguments at the next hearing.

The cases involve allegations of arson, vandalism, and attacks on public and private property, including incidents such as the burning of the PML-N office, violence near Jinnah House, and other registered cases at Shadman Police Station and elsewhere.