Sohail Afridi on Tuesday joined a sit-in alongside the sisters of jailed PTI founder Imran Khan near Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi, amid tight security and the enforcement of Section 144 across the twin cities.
“If Imran Khan stands with Sohail Afridi, then we stand with him” — Aleema Khan
Meena Khan gave instantly Aleema Apa a stare – just like me.😭😭pic.twitter.com/ooMeK58b6u
— m.🇵🇸 (@warrashot) May 12, 2026
The former premier completed 1,000 days in custody earlier this week after being jailed in August 2023. PTI leaders and family members have repeatedly complained that jail authorities are denying them permission to meet Khan despite multiple requests.
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The party has also raised concerns over the health of Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi following recent eye procedures undergone by both. PTI has demanded their immediate transfer to a hospital for proper medical treatment and diagnostic tests under the supervision of personal doctors and family members.
🚨 We demand that 🇵🇰 Imran Khan be shifted to the hospital before next Tuesday and treated in the presence of his family and personal doctors, otherwise we will return next Tuesday with a very strict attitude.
– Sohail Afridi. pic.twitter.com/sLOHtJzoMP
— Asad Nasir (@asadnasir2000) May 12, 2026
The sit-in coincided with Khan’s scheduled meeting day at Adiala Jail, where authorities had already imposed restrictions on all public gatherings in Rawalpindi and Islamabad.
CM Afridi arrived at the Factory Check Post on Adiala Road with official protocol, where Khan’s sisters, including Aleema Khan, had established the protest camp.
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Several senior PTI leaders — including Salman Akram Raja, Shahid Khattak, Naeem Haider Panjutha and Niazullah Niazi — along with party workers, also participated in the sit-in.
Meanwhile, police sealed Adiala Road with barriers and deployed heavy contingents around the jail and nearby areas to maintain security.
In a post on X, Aleema Khan alleged that Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi were being “illegally imprisoned” and subjected to “systematic psychological and physical torture through unlawful isolation.”
She reiterated PTI’s demand for Khan’s immediate transfer to Shifa International Hospital for comprehensive medical examinations and treatment of his eye condition.
Aleema further stated that CM Afridi, members of the KP Assembly, and PTI lawmakers from the National Assembly and Senate would continue participating in the sit-in in solidarity with the former premier. She also urged PTI supporters not to gather outside Adiala Jail due to fears of arrests.
A day earlier, the Rawalpindi administration imposed Section 144 across the district for 15 days, declaring Adiala Jail and surrounding areas a red zone.
According to the official notification, the restrictions came into effect from midnight on May 12, banning all forms of public assembly in the area.
Separately, the Islamabad administration confirmed that Section 144 remains enforced in the federal capital and warned that no public gatherings would be allowed under the restrictions.
Authorities warned that violations of the ban would be treated as breaches of the law and could lead to strict legal action. Citizens were also urged to avoid unlawful activities and cooperate fully with authorities.
Imran Khan, 73, has remained behind bars since August 2023 following convictions that he and PTI describe as politically motivated.
Since being removed from office through a no-confidence vote in April 2022, Khan has faced multiple legal cases, including allegations involving state gifts and an unlawful marriage case.
While some convictions have been suspended or overturned, several appeals are still pending before higher courts. Khan has consistently denied all allegations against him.
