Punjab, April 17 -- Pakistani Police on Thursday denied several senior opposition leaders and family members of jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan access to meet him at Adiala Jail, despite earlier court orders that had reportedly permitted visits for specific individuals submitted by his legal team, the Express Tribune reported.

The move triggered protests outside the prison and intensified criticism of the government's handling of political dissent.

Those turned away included Khan's sister Aleema Khan, her two sisters, Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Omar Ayub, PTI leader Zartaj Gul, Sahibzada Hamid Raza, Niazullah Niazi, and several other political allies. Security personnel stationed at multiple checkpoints ci...