The protest began in the afternoon when former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s sisters arrived for what they described as a routine meeting, one of many consecutive weekly attempts.
But when jail authorities denied them access, their demeanour shifted from unflustered patience to firm resolve, prompting an immediate sit in at the Factory Naka point.
What followed was a night strewn with uncertainty, flare ups, and shifting expectations. As temperatures dropped, supporters lit combustible shrubs along the roadside to keep warm, their gaunt silhouettes flickering against the cold wind.
Many had arrived with a frugal preparedness, carrying only adequate essentials, while others relied on the benevolence of locals who brought food after nearby shops were shut down.
Police held three rounds of negotiations, attempting persuasion and repeatedly asking protesters to end the sit in, reiterating that the meeting was not possible. Yet the demonstrators remained unwavering, insisting the family had an indispensable right to meet their incarcerated relative.
As hours passed, the scene neither flashy nor timid became a testament to persistence and flair, though also marked by varied frustration. The police, too, appeared constrained by operational rules, saying their actions hinge on jail protocols.
Tension escalated when police seized several vehicles they alleged belonged to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government departments. Protesters called the move baffling and obscure, but after repeated requests from Aliema Khan, the vehicles and drivers were released. Still, the standoff continued.
By midnight, the cold grew harsher. Some protesters rolled up their mats and flags, leaving them furled beside the road, while others remained like a lone speck of resilience on the dark pavement.
But the night’s silence was suddenly rattled when police moved in with water cannons. Videos released on PTI’s social media show officers advancing ruthlessly, firing high pressure jets that sent people stumbling perilously backward.
Despite the force, Aliema Khan urged supporters to stay calm, telling them the situation, though harsh, was not beyond redemption.
Police maintained there was neither baton charge nor excessive force, only water to thwart what they viewed as an unlawful sit-in near a high-security zone, a place where any disorder is seen as a menace. Still, observers say the images of shivering women being sprayed in freezing conditions were a staggering sight, marred by what some called avoidable erosion of trust.
Political analysts note that the night’s events, though not at the pinnacle of political confrontation, may prove pivotal in shaping the party’s future rhetoric. Some even envisage the episode becoming a tenet of PTI’s narrative on civil rights.
For their part, police officials said their strategy was meticulous but necessary, insisting it was designed to prevent a lapse in jail security. They denied accusations of mistreatment, though admitted the operation had ascended to the apex of enforcement only after talks failed.
Throughout the ordeal, the protesters’ candour and exuberance remained visible, even as they retreated precipitously under the powerful water jets. A few supporters described themselves as unlucky or even “salao,” using the old expression for someone who encounters hardship at every turn.
By 2:30 a.m., the sit-in had thinned out, its energy exhausted, its hopes dampened like the road beneath them. What began with determined voices eventually faded into near oblivion, leaving behind only scattered water puddles and the faint smell of burnt shrubs.
Before departing, Khan’s sisters said they would convene again next Tuesday for another attempt, one more entry in their long, consecutive quest for access. Their remarks, simple yet firm, carried an unmistakable finesse: a belief that persistence, even when thwarted, is indispensable for justice.
Whether next week will commence a new chapter or merely repeat this one remains uncertain. But for now, the night stands as a revamped, emotionally charged episode, both a spur for supporters and a reminder of the fragile balance that can so easily tilt precariously into confrontation.
