Due to security concerns, the Punjab government has halted the Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s planned visit to Adiala Jail.
The Punjab Interior Department conveyed to its Khyber Pakhtunkhwa counterpart that security measures have been intensified due to potential threats from adversaries of the state targeting Adiala Jail.
Responding to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s request, the Punjab government cited security worries and temporarily suspended visits to several jails, including Adiala. The Punjab government advised postponing the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister’s visit until further notice, citing the prevailing law and order situation.
Earlier, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government had sought permission from Punjab for Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur’s visit to Adiala Jail on March 12. In response, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Information Advisor, Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif, emphasized that as the chief executive of the province, Chief Minister Gandapur seeks guidance from the founder of the PTI and should be permitted to meet him. He criticized the Punjab government for denying PTI leaders access to the party’s founder under the pretext of security, asserting that such meetings are a fundamental right of party leaders. Barrister Saif questioned the safety of jails in Punjab, suggesting that if they aren’t secure, then where else could be considered safe.