- By Supratik Das
- Tue, 02 Dec 2025 10:27 AM (IST)
- Source:JND
Pakistan news: Authorities in Rawalpindi have placed the city on high alert and imposed Section 144 for three days amid growing anxiety over the condition of former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan. The decision comes at a time when Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) supporters are preparing for large-scale demonstrations near Adiala Jail and outside the Islamabad High Court.
Deputy Commissioner Dr Hassan Waqar Cheema signed the emergency order late Friday, citing specific intelligence alerts about possible attempts to trigger unrest. Large gatherings, officials warned, could quickly spiral given the political strain created by the rumours surrounding Khan’s health.
City On Edge As PTI Mobilises
Roads leading to Adiala Jail were sealed throughout the morning, with police checkpoints installed at several entry points. PTI leaders, including Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, have repeatedly claimed that the government is blocking every request to meet the former prime minister. Afridi, who protested outside the jail this week, said the party would call for demonstrations nationwide if authorities continued withholding information.
The situation escalated after unverified social media posts claimed that Khan had been harmed in custody, claims that officials have not addressed directly. A statement attributed to a Balochistan official further fueled speculation, alleging an assassination plot, although no confirmation has come from any government department.
PTI leaders, including the Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sohail Afridi, have accused the government of deliberately blocking all attempts to meet Khan. Afridi, who staged a protest outside Adiala Jail earlier this week, warned of countrywide demonstrations if the party chief’s health status remained undisclosed.
Khan’s three sisters have also been holding a sit-in near the prison for days, saying they have been denied all communication with him for nearly a month. The PTI has submitted a list of six lawyers to the jail administration, seeking immediate permission for a meeting. Khan’s sons, speaking to Reuters, said the family had “no verifiable proof” of his well-being and feared something “irreversible” was being concealed. They described the lack of communication as “psychological torture”.
What Section 144 Prohibits In Rawalpindi
Under the order, the following actions are banned across the district until December 3:
• All gatherings of five or more people, including rallies, marches, sit-ins, dharnas, jalsas, vigils, and public meetings.
• Carrying of weapons or hazardous items, including batons, metal spikes, sling shots, ball bearings, petrol bombs, and improvised explosives.
• Display of firearms by anyone other than law enforcement personnel.
• Removal or damage to police barriers, roadblocks, or any restrictions placed to control crowd movement.
• Pillion riding on motorcycles.
• Use of loudspeakers, regardless of purpose.
• Any activity that may incite unrest, including provocative speeches or demonstrations near key installations.
Thus, for now, the uncertainty surrounding Imran Khan’s health, combined with the PTI’s push for access to him, has left the city tense and bracing for the possibility of confrontation in the days ahead.