Web Desk (MNN); Adviser to the Prime Minister on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah said on Friday that he supports meetings between jailed PTI founder Imran Khan and his family, but only if conducted within legal boundaries.
Imran Khan has been imprisoned since August 2023 and is serving a 14-year sentence in a corruption case. His family and party members have repeatedly protested outside Adiala Jail urging authorities to allow them to meet him, despite court orders reinstating a twice-weekly visitation schedule.
A contempt petition was recently filed by Imran’s sister Aleema Khan against the Adiala superintendent and officials for allegedly ignoring Islamabad High Court orders regarding visitation rights.
During an interview on the Geo News programme ‘Naya Pakistan’, Rana Sanaullah said that meetings should take place but must not turn into political briefings or media interactions. He stated that holding press conferences or issuing political messages after meetings was against prison rules, adding that no prisoner can direct political campaigns from inside jail.
He stressed that Imran’s family and legal team should negotiate terms with jail authorities to ensure the process continues lawfully. Sanaullah maintained that visitation restrictions were due to violations of rules, insisting that meetings must remain within legal limits and should not result in press activity or social media messaging against the state.
The contempt plea emerged after KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi and PTI workers staged an overnight sit-in outside Adiala Jail when Afridi was denied a meeting with Imran for the eighth time. Imran’s sisters have also led similar protests multiple times after being refused access.
PTI called off its most recent sit-in on Friday morning and announced plans to take the matter back to the IHC, following Aleema Khan’s petition.
