ISI-Sponsored Attempt On Imran Khan's Life, Say Aides As Attack On Pakistan's Adiala Jail Thwarted

A terrorist attack on Pakistan’s Adiala Jail which counts numerous VVIPs, including former premier Imran Khan, among inmates was thwarted by the police and the ICou­nter Terrorism Depart­ment (CTD) on Thursday and three terrorists were arrested. Khan’s family and aides have alleged that the attack was a ruse to carry out a second assassination attempt on Khan.

Police officials claimed to have recovered heavy weapons and ammunition from the apprehended terrorists who were later shifted to undisclosed locations for joint interrogation.

A spokesperson for Rawalpindi Police said police and CTD officials thwarted the attack on the Central Jail in Adiala and arrested three terrorists of Afghan origin. In addition to automatic weapons, hand grenades, improvised explosive devices (IEDs), and maps of the jail were also seized from them, the spokesperson added.

Imran Khan, who was ousted in a no-confidence vote in parliament in April 2022, is currently serving multiple terms in the central prison and has some 170 legal cases pending against him on charges ranging from corruption to inciting people to violence and terrorism.

Khan has denied wrongdoing and insisted since his arrest last year that all the charges against him are a plot by rivals to keep him from returning to office.

He was barred from running in the February 8 parliamentary elections in which his rivals from the Pakistan Muslim League party, or PML-N, emerged as the largest presence in the National Assembly, or lower house of the parliament. Khan’s rival, former prime minister Shehbaz Sharif, formed a coalition government last week.

“This was a second attempt to kill Imran Khan. Imran is dangerous for the army and the only PM who didn’t compromise with their ideology and dictations. This is not only about three Afghan terrorists. We fear more have already been sent inside the prison and Imran Khan’s life will be in danger always. This is only and only ISI-sponsored attempt to kill Imran Khan,” a source close to the PTI chief said.

Khan’s sister Aleema Khan, too, raised questions over the alleged attack on the jail.

“Why would anyone come from outside to break into a high security jail? Most of Pakistan voted for Imran Khan! They must be planning to shift him and played out a bad script.”