“I am free in jail, and people outside are in captivity,” says Imran Khan
The public must rise for themselves, for the rule of law, for democracy, and against the 26th Amendment — I will lead the protest from jail
— Aleema Khan speaks to media outside Adiala Jail along with sisters Noreen and Uzma after meeting Imran Khan
Rawalpindi (Web News)
PTI founder Imran Khan has said that he will lead the protest and that while he is free in jail, people outside are actually the ones imprisoned. “You must rise for yourselves, for the rule of law, for democracy, and against the 26th Amendment,” he said. Aleema Khan shared these remarks with the media outside Adiala Jail, accompanied by her sisters Noreen and Uzma, after meeting Imran Khan.
Aleema said, “Alhamdulillah, we sisters have met Imran Khan. He is well, but what is being done to him is worse than what is done to any prisoner. It is the height of injustice — his access to TV and newspapers has been cut off for a week. He has nothing to read or write with. He could write an excellent book from jail, but he doesn’t even have pen and paper.”
She added, “Imran Khan will lead the protest from jail. He said he is free in jail, and we, the people outside, are the ones imprisoned. You must come out for yourselves, for rule of law, for democracy, and against the 26th Amendment.”
Earlier, while speaking at the Gorakhpur checkpoint, Aleema Khan said, “The 10th of Muharram has passed; now the party will announce its plan of action. The founder has already given his plan. He had a plan ready when our family met him last week. The party cannot disclose it to the media just because the media is demanding it. Whether the protest begins from Peshawar and goes to Lahore will be told by the party. Our family knows the plan, and it will be revealed to the media when the time is right. Have faith — it will be better.”
Aleema also said, “Such things happen when a movement is announced. I had said before — even Nawaz Sharif’s family doesn’t visit him, so why stop us from meeting Imran Khan? They are doing this to please Maryam Nawaz. They suspended 26 members just to make Maryam Nawaz happy. Every wish of hers is fulfilled.”
Earlier, the PTI founder’s sisters walked on foot from the Gorakhpur checkpoint toward the jail. A large number of party workers accompanied them, chanting slogans. Heavy police presence was also observed. PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja also reached the jail to accompany the sisters.
The PTI founder’s sisters were stopped near a local hotel. Later, Salman Safdar, Uzma Khan, and Noreen Khan were allowed to meet Imran Khan, but Aleema Khan was not. Meanwhile, Bushra Bibi’s sister-in-law Mehr-un-Nisa was granted permission to meet her. PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar, Salman Safdar, and Zaheer Abbas Chaudhry were also allowed to meet Imran Khan.
PTI founder’s focal person Niazullah Niazi Advocate and Manwara Baloch reached Daaghgal checkpoint but were stopped by police. Senator Faisal Javed and Advocate Zaheer Abbas Chaudhry were also stopped at the Gorakhpur checkpoint.
Meanwhile, lawyer Salman Safdar spoke to the media before his meeting with Imran Khan. He said, “We are going in — this meeting is just as important as the previous ones.”
A journalist asked, “It’s been 700 days in jail for the PTI founder, yet you’ve failed to secure any relief. Why?”
Salman Safdar replied, “We are trying — we are fighting the cases in the courts.”
Another journalist asked, “Did you charge Rs. 260 million as legal fees for the case?”
Salman Safdar responded, “We’ll talk about that on the way back.”