The sisters of jailed former prime minister Imran Khan on Wednesday sharply criticised the leadership of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), accusing them of silence, inaction, and failing to actively pursue legal and political efforts for his release.
Speaking to reporters outside the Islamabad High Court, Aleema Khan — accompanied by Uzma Khan and Noureen Khanum — questioned the absence of key party figures from ongoing legal proceedings related to the PTI founder. The sisters said they had come to inquire about the status of his cases, while Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi also arrived at the court and sought a meeting with Chief Justice Sarfaraz Dogar.
Read more: Vlogger Taken Into Custody After Recording High-Profile Transfer of Imran Khan to PIMS
Khan, 73, has been imprisoned since August 2023 following multiple convictions he maintains were politically motivated after his removal from office through a parliamentary vote in 2022.
His health has recently become a renewed point of dispute between the government and the opposition, following a report submitted to the Supreme Court of Pakistan by his lawyer and court-appointed amicus curiae Salman Safdar.
Earlier this week, Khan was taken to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), where he received a second anti-VEGF intravitreal injection as part of treatment for a serious eye condition.
Read more: Watch: Imran Khan’s sister Noreen Niazi falls inside a drainage line outside of Adiala Jail.
Aleema Khan told journalists that her brother remained the central figure of national politics and vowed the family would continue speaking out for him regardless of political pressure. She said the family often remained uninformed about developments in his cases and criticised the party leadership for failing to communicate or act decisively.
She also questioned why the party had not responded to remarks by Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and alleged that party leaders were making decisions without consulting the family. According to her, despite claims of concern for Khan’s wellbeing, the leadership had maintained contact with officials but did not share information with relatives.
Aleema further criticised the performance of party chairman Gohar Ali Khan, alleging that key cases had not been effectively pursued in higher courts. She claimed internal divisions existed within the party and said the family was aware of individuals they considered disloyal.
Raising concerns about Khan’s treatment, she alleged that government doctors were under pressure and demanded that independent physicians be allowed to monitor his condition. She concluded by urging the party leadership to explain its position and take immediate action.
