'5 Questions': Sohail Afridi Leads PTI 'Siege' Of Pakistan’s Adiala Jail Over Imran Khan’s Secret Surgery | Exclusive

Last Updated:January 29, 2026, 20:38 IST

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister Sohail Afridi has refused to vacate the area near the jail until a meeting with Imran Khan is facilitated

In a dramatic escalation of political tensions, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister Sohail Afridi and a massive contingent of over 300 Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) legislators launched an indefinite sit-in outside Adiala Jail on the night of Thursday. The protest follows alarming reports of a “secret" hospital transfer and a medical procedure performed on incarcerated former Prime Minister Imran Khan without his family’s or party’s knowledge.

The standoff began after Information Minister Attaullah Tarar confirmed on Thursday that Imran Khan had been moved from his cell to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) in Islamabad last Saturday for a 20-minute eye procedure. While the government maintains that the 73-year-old leader is “absolutely healthy" and consented to the treatment, the PTI leadership has branded the move a “criminal act of negligence".

According to PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja, the party only learned of the situation through credible media leaks suggesting Khan has been diagnosed with Central Retinal Vein Occlusion (CRVO) in his right eye—a dangerous blockage that can cause permanent blindness if not managed in a sterile surgical environment. “They lied to us saying he was fine, but now talk of an operation has come to light," Raja stated, accusing authorities of violating court orders that mandate regular access for Khan’s family and personal physicians.

CM Sohail Afridi, who replaced Ali Amin Gandapur in October 2025, has refused to vacate the area near the jail until a meeting with Khan is facilitated. Addressing the media from the protest site, Afridi posed five critical questions to the federal government:

Why was the leader’s health allowed to deteriorate to this point?Why was his illness concealed from the public and his legal team?Why were his family members denied meetings during this critical period?Why was the transfer to the hospital kept secret from those most concerned?Why was the family not taken into confidence before performing a medical procedure?

The atmosphere outside Adiala Jail remains volatile as hundreds of PTI supporters huddled around fires during the winter night to show solidarity with their leader. KP Information Minister Shafi Jan clarified that the sit-in would not end until at least one of the three party-recommended doctors is allowed to verify Khan’s condition.

“This is an issue of the leader’s life; we will absolutely not normalise it," CM Afridi warned, urging the nation to stay prepared for further calls to action. With the Zilla Parishad polls and larger national protests loooming on February 8, the government’s handling of Khan’s medical emergency has become a flashpoint that could reshape the country’s immediate political future.

News world '5 Questions': Sohail Afridi Leads PTI 'Siege' Of Pakistan's Adiala Jail Over Imran Khan’s Secret Surgery | Exclusive

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