Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders and Imran Khan’s sisters faced water cannons outside Adiala jail in Rawalpindi. The incident occurred when the sisters were denied permission to meet the former Prime Minister, who is currently in jail. Videos shared on social media showed water cannons being used against protestors, including women and children.
The PTI Punjab chapter condemned the use of water cannons on peaceful demonstrators in cold weather. Pakistan’s opposition alliance, Tehreek-i-Tahafuz Ayeen-i-Pakistan (TTAP), also criticized the Punjab police for targeting innocent and unarmed individuals. Imran Khan’s sisters and senior party leaders were among those affected by the water cannons.
According to reports, Imran’s sisters and several PTI members were arrested by the police. Aleema, one of the sisters, was later released after being taken towards Chakri. The PTI alleged that the authorities have not followed a court order allowing meetings with Imran twice a week. The party has been staging protests near the jail demanding access to their leader.
Amnesty International recently condemned the repeated use of water cannons on peaceful protesters outside Adiala Jail. The organization expressed concerns about the safety of demonstrators and criticized the conditions of Imran Khan’s confinement. The UN Special Rapporteur on torture also denounced Khan’s solitary confinement as unlawful and constituting psychological torture.
