PTI said early Wednesday that authorities had used water cannons to disperse a peaceful protest outside Adiala Jail, a protest in which Imran Khan’s own sisters were seated, demanding permission to meet their brother. Videos that quickly went viral on social media showed PTI supporters gathered calmly outside the prison, staging a peaceful sit-in with a single demand: allow them a meeting with Imran Khan.

But instead of dialogue, they were met with force. Powerful streams of water burst from a police vehicle, sending the protestors running in the freezing cold. In the chaos, one of Imran Khan’s sisters was injured after slipping on the ground.

The protest followed last week’s announcement by Information Minister Attaullah Tarar imposing a complete ban on all meetings with Imran Khan at Adiala Jail. Tarar labeled the former premier an “extremist consumed by war hysteria,” sparking outrage among PTI supporters and civil rights advocates.

Imran Khan’s family strongly condemned the use of water cannons, calling it “not only a shameless violation of Imran Khan’s prisoner rights but also an outright assault on the constitutional rights of people who gathered to protest the regime’s atrocities.”

PTI went further, urging the global community to take notice:
“International human rights organisations and champions of democracy must not stay silent in the face of such inhumane and authoritarian actions in Pakistan.”

Former senator Mushtaq Ahmad — who emphasized that he is not a PTI member — said he personally joined the protest and witnessed everything firsthand. According to him, the use of force against a small group of peaceful demonstrators was both unnecessary and deeply troubling.

According to Ahmad, one of Khan’s sisters slipped on the wet ground after the water blast, highlighting the physical danger of using such tactics in winter conditions. He also described an unusually heavy security presence, with multiple checkpoints forcing detours as he attempted to reach the jail.

The incident raises pressing questions about human rights, political dissent, and the boundaries of state authority. For now, one thing is clear: despite bans, and blasts of freezing water, Imran Khan’s presence continues to loom large over Pakistan’s political future.

 Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)