Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has met his sister Noreen Niazi at Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi after a gap of approximately nine months. The meeting took place following an intervention by Pakistan’s Supreme Court concerning Khan’s access to family members and medical treatment.
According to reports, Noreen Niazi was allowed to visit the Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf founder on Tuesday. The meeting reportedly lasted around 15 minutes. During the meeting, she is said to have discussed the Supreme Court’s latest directions with Khan, including the order concerning his medical treatment and family visitation rights.
The development came one day after Pakistan’s Supreme Court ordered authorities to move Khan from Adiala Jail to Shifa International Hospital in Islamabad for a medical examination. The court directed that a medical board, including specialists and Khan’s personal physician, assess his condition.
The Supreme Court also directed that Khan be permitted weekly meetings with family members and telephone contact with his sons. The directions followed concerns raised about his health and the restrictions placed on his access to family members while in prison.
Khan has been imprisoned since 2023 following a series of legal cases. His supporters and family members have repeatedly raised concerns over his detention conditions and access to medical care and relatives. Khan and his political supporters have also argued that several of the cases against him are politically motivated, allegations that have been rejected by authorities.
The latest family meeting is significant because relatives had faced restrictions in visiting the former prime minister. Earlier reports documented instances in which Khan’s sisters and political supporters were unable to meet him despite previous court directions concerning visitation.
Noreen Niazi’s visit therefore marks an important development in the ongoing dispute over Khan’s access to family members. Her meeting also came at a time when questions about the former prime minister’s health have become a major part of the legal proceedings.
The Supreme Court’s hospital order was issued amid reports of health concerns, including problems affecting Khan’s vision. The court directed that he receive medical attention at a private hospital in Islamabad. According to Reuters, the order required the transfer to take place within 48 hours, with Khan expected to remain under medical supervision until September 16.
The Pakistani government, however, has indicated that it may challenge or seek modification of the hospital transfer order. Pakistan’s Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar questioned whether a private hospital should be used for a prisoner, arguing that prisoners should generally receive treatment through government facilities or prison medical services.
Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf party welcomed the Supreme Court’s decision and called for its implementation. His family has also continued to seek greater access to him, particularly amid concerns about his health.
The former prime minister remains an influential figure in Pakistani politics despite his imprisonment. He served as Pakistan’s prime minister from 2018 until his removal through a parliamentary no confidence vote in April 2022. His subsequent arrest and multiple legal cases have remained central to Pakistan’s political landscape.
Reuters reported that Khan has faced more than 100 legal cases since his removal from office. He has denied wrongdoing and has maintained that the cases are politically motivated. Some convictions have been overturned or suspended, while other legal proceedings and appeals remain ongoing.
The dispute over Khan’s imprisonment has also contributed to tensions between his political supporters and Pakistan’s authorities. His supporters have repeatedly demanded greater transparency regarding his health, prison conditions and access to lawyers and family members.
The Supreme Court’s latest directions could provide a clearer framework for family contact and medical treatment. The order allowing weekly family meetings is particularly significant because Khan’s relatives have previously faced restrictions in accessing him.
For now, Noreen Niazi’s meeting with Khan represents the first reported direct family visit in around nine months. The development follows judicial intervention and could lead to further discussions over the conditions of Khan’s imprisonment.
The next stage will depend on the implementation of the Supreme Court’s medical and visitation directions and any response from the Pakistani government. The government’s position on the hospital transfer could lead to further legal proceedings.
The situation surrounding Imran Khan remains closely watched in Pakistan because of his continued political influence, his legal battles and the wider political tensions surrounding his imprisonment. The latest Supreme Court intervention has once again placed his health, family access and detention conditions at the centre of public attention.