Pakistan lifts ban on meetings of Imran Khan in Adiala jail

Pakistan's Punjab government on Saturday lifted a ban on the meetings of former prime minister Imran Khan who has been incarcerated in Rawalpindi's Adiala Jail for more than a year.

A senior officer said that the Punjab government lifted the ban on the meetings of prisoners, including the 72-year-old Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader, which was imposed on October 4 because of security concerns.

The government had imposed the ban on Khan's meetings after the PTI gave a protest call on October 4 in Islamabad demanding his release and for the “independence of the judiciary”.

Earlier, he had said he is ready to spend his whole life in jail but will not compromise on his struggle for “Haqiqi Azadi (real freedom)”.

The ministers say Khan's freedom is linked to his unconditional apology for the May 9, 2023, riots in which the PTI workers allegedly had attacked state and military installations.

Khan, however, demands the constitution of a judicial commission to probe the May 9 incidents.

Last month, Khan had claimed that he is being kept in deplorable conditions in the prison.

Khan said only three visitors are allowed to meet him in a week, whereas Nawaz Sharif used to meet with 40 people (when he was in jail).

Earlier this week, a Pakistani court granted bail to Bushra Bibi, the wife of Khan, in the Toshakhana corruption case involving the alleged illegal sale of state gifts, nearly nine months after she was arrested.

Khan was arrested on August 5 last year after his conviction in the first Toshakhana corruption case filed by the Election Commission of Pakistan. Since then, he has been in jail in different cases.