Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr. Tariq Fazal Chaudhry announced on Monday that the ban on meetings with incarcerated Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan will stay in effect until February 8, 2026.
He made the statement during an appearance on Geo News’ Capital Talk. The federal government imposed a blanket ban earlier this month, citing violations of prison rules by Khan’s sisters. Information Minister Attaullah Tarar explained the decision bars political discussions with inmates.
Khan has been imprisoned since August 2023, facing cases from corruption to terrorism following his 2022 ouster via an opposition no-confidence vote.
PTI Senator Barrister Ali Zafar countered that neither international norms nor Pakistan’s Constitution permit solitary confinement. Khan’s sons, Sulaiman and Kasim, recently told journalist Mehdi Hasan they worry about his conditions and inconsistent court-mandated contact. “Jail authorities won’t even let guards speak to him—they want total isolation to break him,” Kasim said.
Chaudhry addressed replacing PTI-backed Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, saying the Centre wants him to continue. He criticized PTI: “They reject every path except rebellion and eliminating opponents.” On the May 9 cases, he questioned: “If not decided in 2025, then when?”—referencing the recent Toshakhana-2 verdict sentencing Khan and wife Bushra Bibi to 17 years each.
“A group [PTI] seeks chaos, anarchy, and sedition,” he warned, adding the law will respond if they take matters into their own hands. On PTI’s planned Islamabad march, he asked: “Is conquering the capital in the nation’s interest?” He hinted at firm action: “No group will occupy Islamabad.”
