Pakistan's Punjab government on Monday banned jailed former premier Imran Khan from meeting his family members, lawyers and party leaders till October 18 du𒈔e to "security concerns", amidst his party staging anti-government protests in several cities.
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Khan has been lodged in Rawalpinꦚdi's Adiala Jail in multiple cases since August 2023.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has accused PTI of trying to disrupt the upcoming Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit scheduled to be held on Oct 15 and 16 in Islamabad an🌸d emphasised that the🏅 government will ensure that these plans do not succeed.
"Incarcerated PTI founder Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi have been banned from meeting their family, lawyers, and party leaders at Adia🦂la Jail, Rawalpindi, till Oct 18," a Punjab government official said.
The government has taken the deci🌼sion in view ﷺof "security concerns", he said.
According 💧to sources, the government has taken the decision in anticipation of the upcomin𝓰g SCO summit.
The coalition💛 government led by PML-N's Shehbaz Sharif has alleged that PTI is staging protests in Islamabad to sabotage the summit. The Pakistan Army has been called in to provide securitꦺy for the SCO summit.
Earlier, security agenci✤es arrested six Adiala jail staff for aiding the PTI foun😼der.
Meanwhile, a PTI spokesperson said its legal team of Khan will file a petition in court, requesting the lifting of a ban on 🔯meetings with Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi.
"Justice Sardar Ijaz of Islamabad High Court had ordered the authorities not too long ago to arrange meetings via video link, if not p♊ossible physically, given the number of cases Imran Khan has to deal with, legal consultation is given and, therefore should be provided," he 🎀said.
PTI supporters are holding ant🔜i-government protests in several parts of Pakistan, including in ꦿIslamabad, Lahore and Rawalpindi.
