Government officials claim that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi’s attempt to meet jailed PTI founder Imran Khan violates prison regulations, an assertion strongly contested by the PTI, which says its court-sanctioned visiting schedule is being ignored.

According to prison authorities and former officials, all inmates in Punjab — including political detainees— are entitled to meet up to five people each week, including lawyers and family members. They are also allowed 30 minutes of phone calls weekly, conducted through monitored public call offices inside Adiala Jail. Even death-row prisoners receive similar visitation and call allowances, reports DAWN.

Political detainees are typically housed in special high-security cells and undergo daily medical check-ups. However, these privileges depend on an inmate’s “good behaviour”, giving jail superintendents wide discretion in permitting or blocking access. Those involved in terrorism or anti-state activities may lose these privileges entirely.

Officials say visitation rights can also be suspended if authorities fear unrest. This has become a key issue for PTI, as jail officials often cite protests and media briefings held by Imran Khan’s visitors — particularly after meetings involving his sister Aleema Khan — as reasons to restrict access.

While the government insists that meetings require explicit judicial approval, PTI leaders argue that even their court-approved Tuesday and Thursday meetings are being denied arbitrarily. Senator Rana Sanaullah, however, has supported limited family visits, while insisting that prison meetings cannot turn into lengthy press conferences.

Past cases reflect similar practices. Leaders such as Nawaz Sharif, Maryam Nawaz and Safdar Awan previously used phone facilities due to “good behaviour”. Veteran journalists also recall that prisoners provide approved visitor lists in advance, though political infighting within PTI over control of Imran Khan’s visitor list has added further complications.