A powerful letter has been penned by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, addressing his concerns to Punjab’s Chief Minister, Maryam Nawaz. The letter highlights the alleged mistreatment of PTI founder Imran Khan’s sisters by police and the denial of his visitation rights, an issue that has sparked controversy and raised important questions about the treatment of political figures and their families.
Afridi’s letter, shared on social media, brings attention to the persistent non-compliance with court-mandated visitation rights for Imran Khan. Despite clear judicial instructions, reports indicate that authorities are failing to uphold these rights, a situation that has led to the manhandling of Imran’s sisters during a recent visit attempt.
The KP Chief Minister emphasizes that Imran’s sisters, being private citizens, should not face such rough treatment, especially when they are simply seeking to exercise their legal right to meet their brother. He argues that there is no justification for obstructing or mishandling immediate family members, as their presence is neither political nor disruptive.
Afridi further calls out the unacceptable practice of physically restraining or detaining family members, creating an impression of disregard for judicial directives. He urges Maryam to ensure a safe and dignified waiting area for authorized visitors, especially the elderly and women, who are currently forced to wait on the roads, a kilometer away from the jail.
The letter also demands accountability for those obstructing, insulting, or physically manhandling peaceful visitors, including Imran’s family and KP cabinet members. Afridi suggests establishing a mechanism to ensure future meetings are conducted in a respectful and legally compliant manner, preventing any recurrence of such incidents.
Imran Khan, a former prime minister and political leader, has been imprisoned since August 2023, serving a sentence in a high-profile corruption case. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan has also expressed concern over the treatment of Imran’s sisters, emphasizing that the rights of prisoners’ families and the right to peaceful assembly are protected under human rights law.
This situation raises important questions about the balance between political tensions and the rights of individuals and their families. It invites discussion on the role of institutions in upholding the law and respecting human rights, especially in the context of high-profile political cases.
What are your thoughts on this matter? Do you think there should be a stricter adherence to judicial directives in such cases, or is there a fine line between political tensions and the rights of individuals?