Khan Sisters Dispersed by Police at Adiala Jail; Family Access Restricted, Senator Warns
State Force Used Against Elderly Protesters at Adiala Jail; Denial of Court-Ordered Visitation Rights Continues Amid Coordinated Political Warnings.
Islamabad: Fresh tensions erupted outside Adiala Jail late Tuesday 9 Dec 2025 as police forcibly dispersed a peaceful sit-in led by the sisters of jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan. Multiple Pakistani journalists released video footage showing water-cannon deployment in reported freezing temperatures between 7–9 °C, raising concerns over the use of disproportionate force against civilians.
Prominent footage captures protestors—many women and elderly family members—gathered outside the jail demanding visitation rights ordered by the court. The visual material forms part of broader documentation that reveals ongoing restrictions on access to Khan.
Restricted Visitation Amid Legal Orders
According to publicly available details, Khan’s sisters, Aleema Khanum and Uzma Khanum, have faced repeated denial of access to their brother despite orders by the Islamabad High Court allowing twice-weekly visits. Aleema Khanum filed a contempt petition on 28 November 2025 against the Adiala Jail superintendent, alleging denial of court-approved family visits. Uzma Khanum was permitted a supervised meeting on 2 December after weeks of restricted access. The Tuesday sit-in outside the jail was scheduled as part of their ongoing protest.
Senator Issues Public Warning on Access
On 3 December 2025, Army backed Senator Faisal Vawda stated that future family visits with Imran Khan “will also be stopped,” asserting that meetings were being used to convey political messages rather than purely personal or legal matters. According to Samaa TV, Vawda declared in a televised segment and on social media that officials will no longer tolerate what he termed “political messaging” via family meetings with the incarcerated leader. (SAMAA TV)
Footage of Dispersal Captured by Journalists
Video material published by Pakistani journalists documents:
Deployment of high-pressure water jets in freezing conditions (Siddique Jaan)
Heavy police presence and riot-barriers at the prison gate
Dispersal of elderly protesters and politically affiliated women
No visible provocation of violence by the demonstrators prior to the operation
Analysts on the scene described the action as an escalation, noting that the sit-in was intended to be peaceful and followed a pattern of weekly protest outside the jail stemming from visitation denials.
Context: Militarised Governance and Political Suppression
Tuesday’s crackdown follows a high-profile press brief by the military spokesperson on 5 December in which the country’s armed forces warned of “internal destabilization.” The directive has been interpreted by media observers as signalling a broader movement to redefine peaceful political dissent as a security threat—especially targeting the opposition party PTI and its leadership.
The alignment of remarks by Senator Vawda, the legal case around visitation rights, and the military’s narrative shift suggest a coordinated strategy rather than isolated operational decisions.
Official Comment
As of press time, neither the Punjab Police nor the Adiala Jail administration has issued a statement regarding the denial of visitation for the sisters, the use of water cannons, or compliance with court orders.