Aleema Khan Announces Street Movement, Says Adiala Jail Protest Enters New Phase

RAWALPINDI: Aleema Khan, sister of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, has announced that the protest outside Adiala Jail has entered a new phase, with the launch of a street movement aimed at restoring her brother’s rights.

Speaking to the media during a court appearance, Aleema Khan said the objective was not merely to secure a meeting with her brother but to ensure the restoration of his legal and constitutional rights. She claimed that Imran Khan had become a symbol of restrictions on human rights, democracy, and justice.

She alleged that while arrest warrants were repeatedly issued in the initial stages of the case, authorities were now avoiding the trial process. According to her, she was summoned to court in the morning, but before her arrival, the hearing had already been rescheduled for August 11, a move she described as incomprehensible. She further claimed that court dates were being fixed on the basis of “instructions from above.”

Aleema Khan said that authorities had previously held urgent hearings to issue arrest warrants, freeze bank accounts, and block identity cards. She maintained that if there was sufficient evidence, the court should announce a verdict and send the accused to prison, but if no case existed, they should be acquitted rather than being kept under prolonged legal uncertainty.

She also alleged that the public had been misled regarding the release of the PTI founder. Stressing the importance of judicial independence, she said fair decisions would only be possible when judges were free to act without external influence. She added that while her side wanted the trial to proceed, the opposing side was now attempting to delay the proceedings, arguing that creating obstacles to justice was itself a criminal act.

Criticizing the Punjab government, Aleema Khan referred to it as a “Form-47 government” and claimed that public fear had diminished following the protests outside Adiala Jail. She announced that she and her two sisters would continue their presence outside the jail and expand the protest into a nationwide street movement reaching neighborhoods across the country.