Tensions flared outside Adiala Jail on Thursday as senior Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders, including Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Omer Ayub Khan and party spokesperson Niazullah Niazi, were once again denied permission to meet the incarcerated founder of PTI — despite clear directives from the Islamabad High Court.
Speaking to media outside the jail, Omer Ayub accused the jail authorities and Punjab police officials of flouting court orders, the Constitution, and basic legal protocols.
“Today, the jail manual and Constitution of Pakistan have been trampled upon. Despite court-approved visitor lists, our meeting was not arranged,” said Ayub, expressing outrage over what he termed "contempt of court."
He claimed that the Saddar SP acted on the orders of the Punjab police chief and intelligence officers to block the meeting, while junior jail staff refused to accept official court documents.
“Assistant Superintendent Imran Riaz and Head Muharrar Zubair declined to receive the court orders. The jail staff said they were told not to accept anything,” Ayub revealed.
He further alleged that PTI founder’s sisters had been previously subjected to mistreatment, and senior party members including Hamid Raza, Shafqat Awan, Tayyaba Raja, and Aliya Hamza were arrested from the jail vicinity. “Police officials are behaving as if they are above the law,” Ayub remarked. “I'm urging the chief justice once again to get his orders implemented, or he will not have any status or significance. Police officers are neglecting and flouting your orders; it's better that you go home.”
Adding to the party’s concerns, Niazullah Niazi, Imran Khan's focal person, criticized the Adiala Jail administration for ignoring the Islamabad High Court’s order regarding the scheduled meeting. “We were supposed to meet the founder and discuss critical matters, including the controversial KP Mines and Minerals Bill. But once again, our constitutional right has been violated,” Niazi said.
According to Niazi, the list of visitors had been duly submitted via fax and post, as directed by the court. However, five senior leaders, including Sahibzada Hamid Raza, Allama Raja Nasir Abbas, and Punjab Assembly Opposition Leader Ahmed Khan Bhachar, were stopped at Gorakhpur checkpost and not allowed to proceed.
Tight security measures were visible around Adiala Jail, with roads cordoned off and personnel from multiple police stations — including Rawat, Chakri, Chountra, and Dhamial — deployed for security. Vehicles heading towards the jail were being searched thoroughly.
In a formal letter addressed to the jail superintendent, Omer Ayub stated that the administration had repeatedly violated court orders by denying the founder’s associates their right to visit. He warned of filing a contempt of court petition against the jail staff and police officers involved in obstructing the meetings.
Despite these setbacks, Niazullah Niazi voiced hope for party unity, saying, “Our differences have ended. Pakistan stands with the founder of PTI.”
