The sisters of imprisoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan have launched a scathing public critique against the leadership of his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, accusing them of “complete silence” and a failure to mount an effective legal or political defense for the party founder.
Public Rebuke Outside the High Court
Speaking to journalists outside the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday, Aleema Khan, accompanied by sisters Uzma Khan and Noureen Khanum, demanded answers from the party’s top legal minds. “Where are Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, Latif Khosa and Barrister Ali Zafar missing and why are they not pursuing cases?” Aleema questioned, highlighting the family’s growing frustration.
The public rebuke comes as the 73-year-old Khan, jailed since August 2023 on convictions he calls politically motivated, faces ongoing health concerns. He was recently administered a second eye injection at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), with his health becoming a point of contention between the government and opposition.
Allegations of Secrecy and Inaction
The sisters leveled multiple allegations against the PTI leadership:
- Absence from Legal Battle: Uzma Khan stated the family is often left in the dark about case developments, claiming “the party leadership is nowhere to be seen.”
- Unauthorized Contacts: Aleema alleged party leaders were privately engaging with Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi without informing the family, calling it “shameful.”
- Failure in Legal Strategy: She criticized Chairman Barrister Gohar’s performance, saying he had failed to get crucial cases heard by superior courts.
- Health Decisions Excluding Family: Aleema insisted no decisions about Imran Khan’s health should proceed without her consultation and demanded the family’s own doctors be allowed access.
A Call for Accountability and Action
“We want the party to take action now,” Aleema declared, framing the issue as both a familial and political crisis. She questioned how the party could be divided by statements from the interior minister and implied knowledge of internal dissenters, stating “everyone… knew who the ‘traitors’ were within the party.”
The sisters’ protest underscores a deepening rift within the PTI, as the family of its central figure publicly challenges the competence and commitment of the party apparatus tasked with securing his freedom. The demand for an explanation from the leadership about their silence and current stance places intense new pressure on the party’s hierarchy.
