On December 10, 2025, Pakistan’s political landscape was rocked by a dramatic escalation in the standoff between the government and the opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party. In Lahore, the Punjab Assembly passed a highly charged resolution demanding a ban on PTI and its founder, Imran Khan, accusing them of undermining national stability and acting in concert with the country’s adversaries. Meanwhile, outside Adiala Jail near Rawalpindi, Imran Khan’s family and supporters staged a tense sit-in, decrying what they called his “illegal isolation” and mistreatment in detention.
The resolution, moved by PML-N lawmaker Tahir Parvez, called for decisive action against leaders found guilty of making statements against the state or fomenting unrest. According to The Express Tribune, the resolution declared: “A ban should be imposed on the PTI and its founder, Imran Khan, for acting as a tool of the enemy state. He is also accused of making statements against the country and spreading chaos.” The statement went further, demanding that all such leaders, regardless of political or non-political affiliations, be prosecuted under the law and face punishment commensurate with their actions. In a show of solidarity with Pakistan’s security apparatus, the resolution also paid tribute to officers and personnel safeguarding the nation’s stability and security.
Speaking at a press conference in Lahore, Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari warned that the government’s patience with PTI was running out. While she expressed personal reluctance to see any party banned or governor’s rule imposed, she cautioned that the PTI’s actions were “steadily narrowing the available options.” Bokhari pointed to the deteriorating security situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P)—a province governed by PTI—highlighting persistent terrorism, understaffed police, and a lack of modern policing infrastructure. “On the one hand, K-P remains most afflicted by terrorism, the police there remain understaffed; they do not yet have a Crimes Control Department (CCD), and police do not have the necessary equipment,” she stated, as quoted by The Express Tribune.
Bokhari accused the PTI of moving beyond political opposition and endangering national stability. Drawing a sharp parallel, she likened Imran Khan’s rhetoric to that of the self-exiled MQM leader Altaf Hussain, whose speeches were banned in 2015 after anti-state remarks. “He has the same policies as Altaf Hussain, which were still quite mild compared to his (Imran),” Bokhari asserted. “I fear that perhaps he will meet the same fate as Altaf Hussain.” She also noted that Pakistan had suffered international isolation during PTI’s tenure, contrasting it with what she described as a renewed global standing under the current government.
Minister of State Barrister Aqeel Malik echoed these sentiments, accusing PTI of “political recklessness” dating back to 2011 and justifying strong institutional responses to the party’s conduct. He warned that every action provokes a reaction, questioning why PTI repeatedly targeted state institutions. Malik claimed there was “no difference” between PTI’s narrative and hostile messaging from Indian and Afghan social media platforms, urging the party not to drag the armed forces into a “dirty political game.” He argued that the option of imposing governor’s rule in K-P was being seriously considered, blaming Imran Khan for the province’s security woes and accusing PTI of obstructing intelligence-based operations and resisting counterterrorism efforts. Referring to the violent PTI protests on November 26, he said that arriving with nail-studded sticks was “no less than terrorism” and could not be justified under any political pretext.
While the government pressed its case in the Punjab Assembly, a very different scene was unfolding outside Adiala Jail. Imran Khan’s sister, Aleema Khan, stood before a crowd of family members and PTI supporters, voicing grave concerns over his treatment in custody. “We have been coming here for the last 8 months. We come here and sit every Tuesday. We are not allowed to meet Imran Khan. They are torturing him. He has been kept in illegal isolation. They should end this torture against Imran Khan,” Aleema told reporters, as cited by NDTV.
Strict security was deployed around the prison as the protest gained momentum, with senior PTI leaders like Secretary General Salman Akram Raja and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provincial chief Junaid Akbar Khan joining the sit-in. Their presence signaled the party’s mounting frustration after repeated attempts to meet Imran Khan were rebuffed by jail authorities, despite a court order permitting visits on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
The family’s concerns reached a new pitch after a rare 20-minute meeting on December 2, when Imran Khan’s sister Uzma Khanum was finally granted access nearly a month after all communication had been cut off. She reported that her brother appeared physically fine but was facing “psychological torture” inside the jail. According to NDTV, Khanum said Imran Khan blamed Pakistan’s army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, for subjecting him to “mental torture.” The Pakistan Army sharply rejected these allegations, calling the former premier “mentally unstable and narcissistic.”
Tensions escalated further when the government barred Uzma Khanum and others from future visits, accusing them of violating prison rules by engaging in political discussions during their meetings. Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar explained, “There is no room in the [prison] rules for political discussions, and it was reported that political discussions occurred, so meetings are now banned for Uzma Khan. This won’t happen.”
The events outside Adiala Jail on December 10 drew attention to the sharp divide between the government and PTI supporters. As reported by Dawn, authorities stopped Imran Khan’s sisters at a checkpoint, citing the end of visiting hours, which prompted the sit-in. PTI leaders joined the demonstration, accusing jail officials of violating Khan’s rights and raising concerns about his treatment and detention conditions.
Imran Khan, detained following convictions in multiple cases, has had restricted access to family and legal counsel. His supporters argue that these measures are politically motivated and designed to break the spirit of the party. The government, on the other hand, insists it is acting within the law and in the interest of national security.
The situation has left Pakistan’s political scene at a boiling point. On one side, the ruling coalition and its allies in the Punjab Assembly frame PTI and its leadership as a threat to the country’s integrity, pointing to violent protests, alleged obstruction of counterterrorism efforts, and rhetoric they say aligns with hostile foreign interests. On the other, Imran Khan’s family and supporters see a deliberate campaign to silence dissent, painting the government’s actions as an assault on political freedoms and human rights.
As the standoff deepens, the fate of PTI and its founder remains uncertain. The government’s warnings of a potential ban and the imposition of governor’s rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have raised the stakes, while persistent protests and mounting international attention ensure that the crisis will not fade quietly. Both sides appear entrenched, each accusing the other of endangering Pakistan’s future. For now, the country watches as its most prominent political drama in years unfolds, with no clear resolution in sight.
