Imran Khan family meetings tied to SOP compliance

Imran Khan family meetings tied to SOP compliance

ISLAMABAD: Family meetings with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder and former prime minister Imran Khan, who remains in jail, will continue under an understanding that his relatives strictly follow the agreed standard operating procedures (SOPs), according to informed sources.

The key condition requires family members to avoid holding press conferences or issuing political statements after meeting Imran Khan. Authorities have reportedly linked the continuation of family visits to compliance with these conditions.

Imran Khan’s sister, Noreen Khanum, was allowed to meet him again on Tuesday, marking her second meeting with the former premier within a few days. Sources described the development as a positive sign for Imran Khan and his family after a prolonged period of restrictions on family access.

According to sources, authorities may continue easing restrictions on family meetings as long as the agreed SOPs remain in place and relatives comply with them. The understanding also requires family members who meet Imran Khan to refrain from making political comments or addressing the media after leaving the prison.

The arrangement has also surfaced during proceedings before the Supreme Court, where assurances regarding compliance with the conditions have reportedly been given. The issue had remained contentious for an extended period because some members of Imran Khan’s family previously spoke to the media after meeting him. Statements attributed to the PTI founder also appeared on his social media accounts following some of these meetings.

Sources said several of those statements contained strong criticism of the establishment, increasing tensions over whether family meetings should continue without additional restrictions. Authorities subsequently placed greater emphasis on ensuring that prison visits did not become a channel for political messaging.

Under the current understanding, the authorities are expected to maintain the relaxed approach if the family continues to follow the agreed rules. In practical terms, relatives will be expected to avoid post-meeting press conferences, while politically controversial statements attributed to Imran Khan will also need to remain off the public platform following family visits.

The development could provide some relief to Imran Khan and his family by allowing more regular contact while reducing the possibility of family meetings becoming a source of renewed political confrontation. It may also establish a framework under which the former prime minister can maintain direct contact with his relatives without triggering a return to the earlier restrictions.

However, sources stressed that the continuation of the current arrangement depends largely on compliance with the agreed SOPs. Any violation could potentially lead to the authorities reconsidering the relaxed conditions surrounding family meetings.