Imran Khan, the incarcerated former prime minister of Pakistan and leader of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, was granted a rare meeting with his sister, Uzma Khanum, inside Rawalpindi's Adiala Jail on Tuesday, providing a glimmer of relief amid escalating rumours about his deteriorating health and prolonged isolation from family. The visit, approved by jail authorities after weeks of PTI demands, came as supporters rallied outside the facility and the Islamabad High Court, protesting what they described as deliberate restrictions on Khan's access to loved ones and senior party figures. Uzma Khanum, accompanied by a contingent of PTI activists, entered the high-security prison for the private session, marking the first confirmed family interaction since unverified reports of Khan's "death" began circulating last week, prompting urgent calls from relatives for proof of life.

The meeting unfolded against a backdrop of heightened tensions, with PTI alleging that Khan has been denied visitation rights for several weeks as part of a broader crackdown following his arrest in August 2023 on charges including corruption and inciting violence. Over the past seven days, speculation about Khan's well-being intensified after his son, Sulaiman Isa Khan, and other family members publicly questioned his condition, citing a lack of direct communication and visual evidence. Uzma Khanum herself had joined these pleas, urging authorities to allow immediate access to dispel the "malicious rumours" that she claimed were being spread to destabilise the opposition. PTI spokesperson Sheikh Waqas Akram echoed this sentiment, stating outside the jail, "We are here not just for a meeting but for justice—Imran Khan is alive, and the nation must see it."

PTI's protests, which drew hundreds of supporters chanting slogans against the Shehbaz Sharif-led government, highlighted the party's ongoing campaign to portray Khan's detention as political persecution. Demonstrators waved party flags and held placards reading "Free Imran Khan" and "End the Silence on His Health", while security forces maintained a heavy presence to prevent escalations. The gathering outside the Islamabad High Court separately demanded judicial intervention to enforce visitation rights, referencing a pending petition filed by Khan's legal team. This week's unrest builds on months of intermittent clashes between PTI activists and law enforcement, including a violent crackdown during the party's November 2024 long march that resulted in dozens of arrests.

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Khan, who has been held in Adiala Jail since his initial arrest and faces over 200 legal cases ranging from graft to sedition, has repeatedly used prison communications to rally supporters ahead of the 2027 general elections. His health has been a flashpoint since early 2025, with reports of untreated diabetes, hypertension, and injuries from alleged jail assaults. PTI claims these are exacerbated by solitary confinement and poor medical facilities, while government officials dismiss the narratives as propaganda. The meeting with Uzma Khanum, though brief and untelevised, was hailed by party insiders as a small victory, with expectations that it could lead to further family access if no adverse updates emerge.

As the dust settled on Tuesday's protests, PTI vowed to intensify scrutiny on Khan's situation, planning additional rallies unless broader visitation reforms are implemented. The episode underscores the deepening polarisation in Pakistani politics, where Khan's enduring popularity—polls show him leading Sharif by 20 points—continues to challenge the establishment despite his incarceration. With the military's influence looming large and economic woes mounting, the government's handling of this latest saga could further erode public trust ahead of key legislative sessions.

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