Islamabad, Dec 2: Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan is “alive and mentally tortured,” his sister Dr Uzma Khanum said Tuesday after a 20-minute meeting with him at Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi -- the first family visit in more than three weeks.

“Alhamdulillah, he is all right… but he was angry about being mentally tortured. He is locked in his cell all day and cannot communicate with anyone,” Dr Khanum told reporters.

She also said Khan blamed Army Chief General Asim Munir — widely viewed as Pakistan’s most powerful figure — for his imprisonment and current conditions. Munir recently consolidated control over the military and, according to PTI leaders, backed constitutional changes that provide lifetime immunity to top officials, including President Asif Ali Zardari.

The meeting came amid persistent concerns over Khan’s health. His three sisters — Noreen Niazi, Aleema Khan, and Uzma Khan — earlier alleged they were assaulted while trying to secure permission to meet him. Khan’s sons have also said authorities are withholding information about their father, with Kasim Khan telling Reuters there has been “no direct or verifiable contact” despite court-ordered weekly meetings.

PTI leaders claim Khan’s personal doctor has repeatedly been denied access.

Before Tuesday’s meeting, no family member or senior PTI leader had seen Khan for over 25 days, fuelling rumours about his well-being. PTI Senator Khurram Zeeshan alleged Khan was being kept in isolation to pressure him into leaving Pakistan, and said the Shehbaz Sharif government was avoiding releasing images or video because of Khan’s political influence.

Concerns over Khan’s treatment triggered protests in Islamabad and Rawalpindi, prompting restrictions on public gatherings. Demonstrators also rallied outside the Islamabad High Court.

Social media speculation about Khan’s health and rumours of his death had been circulating for weeks, including posts from accounts based in Afghanistan. Relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan remain tense amid recent military clashes along the border.

Also Read: Report Details Systematic Abuse of Sikh Community in Pakistan

Imran Khan, 72, and a former cricket World Cup winner, has been in prison since August 2023 after his conviction in a corruption case. The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf maintains that the charges are politically motivated.