Imran Khan Says the Nation Must ‘Prepare Itself’; ‘It Is Now Freedom or Death,’ Claims Aleema Khan

ISLAMABAD: The sisters of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan held an emotional press conference, stating that they had never addressed the media in such a manner before, but “enough is enough” after years of alleged mistreatment.

Speaking to reporters, Aleema Khan said they had tolerated injustices for two and a half to three years, but the situation had now become unbearable. She said prison authorities allow or deny meetings with Imran Khan whenever they please despite court orders.

Aleema claimed that three weeks earlier, after they sat on the road in heavy rain, her sister Uzma Khan was allowed to meet Imran Khan for only five minutes. She added that the SHO had promised another meeting the following Tuesday, but even that did not happen, and instead police “kept accusing us of things.”

She further alleged that certain women officers were deliberately deployed who “had no ethics,” saying they behaved like “Gulo Butt-style attackers.” She claimed women officers dragged their family members by the hair and that a woman named Gul Naz repeatedly ordered police personnel to “beat them.” Aleema said her 71-year-old sister Noreen Niazi was thrown to the ground and dragged in full view of witnesses. “Do they think they will scare us? We will still go there,” she vowed.

Aleema said Imran Khan had been offered a “safe exit” a day before his arrest on August 4, but he refused, saying he would face “false cases” for the sake of the nation. “He never made any personal demand. This is not politics—this is a jihad for the true freedom of this country. We are inspired by his patience,” she said. “Imran Khan says it is now freedom or death—so do we. We are not afraid.”

Noreen Khan Niazi added that she felt proud to be Imran Khan’s sister and Hassan Niazi’s mother. She alleged that the conduct of the police resembled “tactics used in Gaza,” suggesting officials behaved as if trained in oppressive methods. She further claimed the government wanted Imran Khan to apologize, “but he will not.”