Concerns over Khan’s health intensified last month after his three sisters Noreen Niazi, Aleema Khan and Uzma Khan said they were assaulted for asking to meet with him.
Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan is alive but is being “mentally tortured”, his sister, Dr Uzma Khanum, said Tuesday evening after a 20-minute meeting with her brother in Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Dr Khanum said, “Alhamdulillah, he is all right… but he was angry about being mentally tortured. He is locked in his cell all day… can only step out for short periods. And he can’t communicate with anyone.”
She also said her brother had blamed General Asim Munir – now the most powerful figure in Pakistan, after seizing control of the entire military and rewriting the Constitution to guarantee lifetime immunity for himself, the other service chiefs, and President Asif Ali Zardari – for his incarceration and condition.
The meeting followed rumours about the ex-Prime Minister’s health, particularly after his family were barred from meeting him for several weeks. It also followed protests by Imran Khan’s supporters – in Islamabad and Rawalpindi – that prompted officials to prohibit large gatherings.
That, though, did not prevent protests outside the Islamabad High Court.
Concerns over Khan’s condition intensified last month after his three sisters – Noreen Niazi, Aleema Khan and Uzma Khan – said they were assaulted for asking to meet with him.
Those concerns were amplified by his sons’ comments – that jail authorities were concealing “something irreversible” about their father’s condition. One of his sons, Kasim Khan, told Reuters there had been no direct or verifiable contact despite a court order for weekly meetings.
The family also flagged prison authorities refusing visits by Imran Khan’s personal doctor.
In fact, prior to today’s meeting, neither family nor members of his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf had met Khan for over 25 days, leading to rumours he may have died and the authorities, aware his death will lead to protests by millions who see him as national hero, were trying to cover it up.
And pressure on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his government – who have so far demurred from showing proof of life – was ramped up Sunday by Senator Khurram Zeeshan from the PTI.
Zeeshan claimed Khan was being kept in isolation as a tactic to pressure him into leaving Pakistan. Speaking to ANI from Pakistan, Zeeshan, claimed the Shehbaz Sharif government felt threatened by Imran Khan’s popularity, and that is why they do not show photos or videos.
