PTI Escalates Adiala Protest After Firing Allegations
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi and Aleema Khan, sister of former prime minister Imran Khan, have alleged that gunfire was used against participants of a sit-in linked to efforts to meet the PTI founder at Adiala jail. The claims were made in Islamabad after a caravan led by Afridi was stopped from entering the capital on its way to Rawalpindi.
The confrontation began when Afridi and other participants attempted to proceed toward Adiala jail for a meeting with Imran Khan. After being blocked, the group staged a sit-in near the intersection of Srinagar Highway and G.T. Road, an area locally known as Chungi No. 26, turning the episode into a fresh flashpoint in Pakistan’s already tense political climate.
Afridi alleged during the press conference that shots were fired to disperse protesters and that several people were injured. He linked the incident to broader grievances from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, arguing that the province was being treated unfairly despite contributing resources such as gas to the national system.
The KP chief minister said the protesters’ central demand was medical treatment for Imran Khan at Shifa International Hospital. He also claimed that the former premier’s health had worsened, specifically referring to vision problems in one eye, and insisted that PTI supporters would continue returning until their demand was addressed.
Aleema Khan used the press conference to criticise the restrictions on meetings with her brother, claiming that visits had been barred for months and that Imran Khan had been kept in isolation. She also raised the cipher case again, presenting it as evidence of the political pressure that PTI believes has surrounded the former premier since his removal from office.
The episode comes against the backdrop of prolonged political confrontation between PTI and the federal authorities. Since Imran Khan’s imprisonment, the party has repeatedly mobilised supporters around court appearances, jail access, health concerns and allegations of political victimisation.
Afridi also announced that further protest activity was planned, saying demonstrations would be held on Friday and that the group intended to return the following Tuesday with a stronger mobilisation. PTI and the opposition alliance Tehreek Tahaffuz Ayeen-e-Pakistan have already called for countrywide protests over Imran Khan’s imprisonment, inflation and governance issues.
The allegations are likely to deepen political friction between the federal government and PTI-led circles in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Any confirmed use of force against elected representatives or protesters would carry serious implications for public order, parliamentary relations and the wider debate over democratic rights.
Authorities are expected to face pressure to clarify what happened near the sit-in site, including whether shots were fired and who authorised crowd-control action. With PTI signalling more demonstrations, the coming days may determine whether the standoff remains a controlled protest campaign or turns into a broader political confrontation.