Uzma Khan's meeting with Imran Khan ceased from today: info minister

Information Minister Attaullah Tarar on Thursday said the government has stopped Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan’s sister, Uzma Khan, from meeting him at Adiala jail.

Addressing a press conference along with Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar in Islamabad, the information minister vowed strict action against anyone found disturbing law and order outside the Rawalpindi prison.

"There should be no doubt that directives have been issued to maintain law and order outside the jail. Anyone found disturbing the peace will be dealt with iron hands," he added.

Tarar assailed the PTI for spreading unfounded claims about Khan's health, saying that Uzma herself confirmed the former premier was safe and sound.

"No prisoner has ever been provided a jogging machine," Tarar said, while accusing a female PTI leader of feeding Indian and Afghan media with claims that the PTI founder's life was under threat.

Referring to the PTI founder's past remarks, Tarar said that Khan — during his premiership — used to "run his hand over his face and say he would get so and so arrested, remove their AC".

Tarar further said that the international media was being used to push propaganda against Pakistan.

"His [PTI founder] three sisters create law and order situations outside the jail. This cannot continue — you meet inside and run propaganda outside. You were given an opportunity, and whoever violated the rules has had their meetings stopped."

The minister said that they, too, used to visit prisoners, but "never created a law and order situation".

Tarar vowed to establish the writ of the state, saying there would be no more "spectacles outside Adiala every day".

"Meetings have a purpose — to ask about well being," he said, adding that the PTI founder, during the meetings, says that the state should be brought down.

"You want to weaken the country's defence? Damage its sovereignty? You want to challenge a state that defeated India?" he asked.

The minister then assailed the former premier over what he called his "hypocrisy" and "so many U turns".

"A person should have character. He [Khan] has neither character nor manliness," Tarar said.

This is a developing story and is being updated with further details.