A planned meeting between Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Founder Imran Khan and family and his legal team on Eid day turned chaotic at Adiala Jail’s Gate 5, as several key party members and lawyers were denied entry.
According to PTI founder's focal person, Niazullah Niazi, the party had been coordinating with prison officials for the meeting. However, when the delegation arrived, only a select few were allowed to enter, including Azam Swati, Nadia Khattak, Tabish Farooq, Mubashir Awan and Ansar Kiani, while others, including prominent lawyer and meetings coordinator Salman Akram Raja, were stopped.
Dispute at jail gate
A heated argument ensued between Salman Akram Raja and the jail staff after he, along with Shoaib Shaheen and Niazullah Niazi, was prevented from meeting Imran Khan. Raja insisted that his name was on the list of approved visitors, but authorities refused to let him in.
“How can this be? I gave the names, yet I am being stopped,” Raja protested. He urged the staff to allow him and Niazi inside first, emphasizing that court orders permitted their meeting. “If you send others inside before us, Khan Sahib will be angry,” he added.
Despite Raja’s objections, jail authorities insisted on sending Azam Swati, Mubashir Maqsood, and Nadia Khattak inside first. Raja, in protest, stopped two of his colleagues -- Tabish Farooq and Ansar Kayani -- from entering, stating that none should go in until he and Niazi were also allowed.
Raja told the jail staff they were stopping two people, and asked them to let him and Niazullah Niazi go inside instead. "We are sending the rest inside now, and then we will allow whoever comes," the prison authorities responded and repeatedly insisted on sending Ansar Kiani and Tabish Farooq inside but were stopped by Raja.
The senior lawyer stated that according to court orders, only those nominated by himself, Barrister Gohar and Intazar Panjotha will be allowed to go inside the jail and meet Imran Khan. Later, a separate consultation took place between Azam Swati and Salman Akram Raja and both leaders even sent Mubashir Maqsood Awan away.
Following the dispute, Niazullah Niazi addressed the media, condemning the restrictions imposed by the jail administration. “This meeting was supposed to happen as per the high court’s larger bench order, but only Azam Swati was permitted from our list,” he said, announcing plans to file a contempt of court petition against prison authorities.
PTI founder’s concerns in jail
After meeting Imran Khan, Azam Swati revealed details of their discussion. Swati informed him about party matters, corruption allegations, and internal affairs.
He said he told the PTI founder that Salman Akram Raja will not betray him, and even apprised him of the corruption allegations in Mansehra, and the situation in Punjab. "I also told him about Junaid Akbar. The PTI founder ordered that Junaid Akbar's appointments be reversed immediately," Swati said.
“The founder said that if the committee has decided, then the speaker of the assembly should resign,” Swati stated. He also conveyed to the founder that obstacles were being created for PTI leader Alia Hamza, and mentioned that the party chief was dissatisfied with certain appointments. "About Junaid Akbar, I told the founder that he was doing a good job."
Swati also informed Imran Khan that Sardar Khan and Ikramullah were facing corruption charges but were given party positions, adding that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur was not silent on corruption charges.
Another PTI leader, Mubashir Maqsood, shared insights into the founder’s prison conditions, stating that he had not been allowed to communicate with his children for the past seven months. “He also complained about not being given books and being restricted from holding political meetings,” Maqsood added.
Party reaction and future legal action
Following the jail incident, PTI leaders vowed to challenge the administration’s actions legally. Salman Akram Raja reiterated that the party would not tolerate such treatment. He said he would contact Junaid Akbar on Azam Khan Swati's statements.
“There is no infighting in PTI -- these are just minor issues. However, if there are concerns in Punjab, they can be discussed,” he remarked.
