Noreen Niazi, sister of imprisoned former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan, expressed significant concern over her brother’s welfare, stating that authorities had prohibited family, attorneys, and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) members from meeting him for more than four weeks. Even scheduled visits by party heavyweights, including Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, were denied, feeding rumors about Khan’s death that circulated throughout India. On November 27 (Thursday), Adiala Jail officials refuted claims as unfounded, affirming Khan’s continued custody, good health, and medical attention.
Allegations of brutality by police.
Niazi slammed the Pakistani establishment for unleashing unfettered police violence on Khan’s followers, including children, women, and the elderly, indicating an unparalleled level of oppression. She claimed that officers had been given the authority to beat demonstrators without consequences, violating societal standards in ways never seen before in Pakistan. The global awareness of these occurrences highlights the gravity of the crackdown on PTI supporters.
Strict incarceration conditions and isolation
Niazi compared Khan’s current isolation to last year’s three-week solitary confinement without electricity or literature, which exceeded the prison manual’s four-day restriction. According to PTI reporting and Khan’s own admissions, there has been prolonged cell confinement, power outages, and prohibited visits, all of which the jail superintendent disputes by certifying no phone or internet access. Despite Supreme Court bail orders in several cases, Khan has been imprisoned on multiple corruption and terrorism offenses since 2023.
Increased solidarity and warning
Niazi expressed solidarity with other ‘poor and innocent’ convicts suffering alongside her brother, predicting a public outcry against the growing oppression. PTI seeks immediate family meetings despite health concerns, as protests outside Adiala Jail escalate over the former Prime Minister’s solitary confinement and limited access.
Imran Khan’s sister compared tyranny to Hitler’s period.
Noreen Niazi, the sister of imprisoned former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan, described Pakistan as being at its darkest moment, with “Hitler-era-like repression,” in which civilians are abducted, killed, and beaten without accountability. She described seeing a young man in Peshawar who had been shot in the head and left paraplegic on November 26 as one of innumerable incidents reflecting ancient tyranny. Niazi compared current horrors to reports of people being dragged into cellars during the Nazi dictatorship, highlighting the reality of unfettered oppression.
Attacks on the Army Chief and Government
Niazi called Pakistan Army Chief General Asim Munir a “dictator” and Shehbaz Sharif’s administration the most disliked in the country’s history. She accused authorities of allowing cops to abuse anyone, including children, women, and the old, without regard for consequences, a first in Pakistan’s history. During rallies outside Adiala Jail, Punjab Police reportedly attacked her, her sisters Aleema Khan and Dr. Uzma Khan.
Denied access to Imran Khan
Imran Khan has been in Adiala Jail since August 2023 on several accusations, with an undisclosed ban prohibiting family and PTI members from meeting him for more than a month, fueling death rumors. Noreen and her sisters slept outside the prison for four weeks, attempting to gain admission despite repeated denials and police harassment. This isolation heightens fears about his health as PTI supporters face greater crackdowns.
