The political standoff in Pakistan reached a fever pitch on Tuesday, December 23, 2025, as the sisters of incarcerated former Prime Minister Imran Khan staged a defiant sit-in near Rawalpindi’s Factory Naka.
Aleema Khan, Noreen Khan Niazi, and Uzma Khan arrived for their scheduled weekly meeting at Adiala Jail but were blocked by a massive police deployment. This marks the third consecutive week that family access to the PTI founder has been restricted.
Protest Timeline: The Siege of Adiala Road
- 3:30 PM: The sisters and PTI workers were stopped at the Factory Naka checkpoint. Police reportedly used iron barricades and heavy machinery to seal the road leading to the prison.
- The Sit-in: Barred from moving forward, Aleema Khan announced an immediate sit-in on the road. They were joined by senior PTI leaders, including Junaid Akbar and Mushtaq Ghani.
- 9:00 PM: After hours of chanting slogans and a brief standoff with riot police, the sit-in concluded following negotiations with local police officials.
Allegations of “Inhumane” Conditions
Speaking to the media from the protest site, Aleema Khan leveled serious accusations against the jail administration and the federal government:
- Solitary Confinement: She claimed both Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi are being kept in total isolation, which she termed “solitary confinement” intended for “mental torture.”
- Denied Rights: Tuesdays and Thursdays are court-mandated meeting days for the PTI founder. Aleema alleged that the government is “fearful of Imran’s message” and is breaking the law to suppress it.
- The “No-Negotiation” Rule: Aleema clarified that Imran Khan has instructed the party to prepare for nationwide protests. She warned that anyone from PTI currently advocating for negotiations with the government is acting against the founder’s explicit orders.
Security Crackdown in Rawalpindi
The city remained on high alert throughout Tuesday, with a security apparatus designed to prevent a repeat of the massive PTI rallies seen earlier this month.
| Unit | Personnel Deployed |
| Police Officers | 1,300+ (including 7 DSPs and 29 Inspectors) |
| Elite Force | 7 Sections of Commandos |
| Anti-Riot Wing | 400 Personnel |
| Rapid Emergency Ops | 22 Specialist Personnel |
Context: This crackdown follows the December 20 verdict where a special court sentenced both Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi to 17 years of rigorous imprisonment in the Toshakhana-II corruption case, involving the alleged undervaluation of state gifts.
What’s Next?
The PTI legal team is expected to move the Islamabad High Court on Wednesday to seek a contempt of court notice against the Adiala Jail Superintendent for defying the order to allow family meetings. Meanwhile, the party has issued “mobilization orders” for its workers to remain on the streets for a “long-term agitation.”