ISLAMABAD, JUL 21: Information Minister Ataullah Tarar slammed Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan for claiming that he was imprisoned in a death cell when, in actuality, he was in a “presidential suite”, which is better than a middle-class family’s house.
“You are telling the West that you’re facing troubles, and you’re imprisoned in a death cell. This death cell is a ‘presidential suite’ in Adiala jail, which is better than a middle-class house,” Tarar said during a press conference in Islamabad.
Imran, in an interview with The Sunday Times through his lawyers, claimed that he was imprisoned in a death cell, where “terrorists” are kept to ensure “they have no contact with anyone”.
The 71-year-old cricketer-turned-politician has been in prison for almost a year now in three cases — the Toshakhana case, cipher case, and the un-Islamic marriage case. His wife, Bushra Bibi, is also behind bars.
However, a court had suspended his sentence in the Toshakhana case, while other courts overturned his convictions in the cipher and iddat cases, respectively.
While there were hopes for his and Bushra’s release in July, they were dashed when the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) arrested them on fresh charges related to the sale of state gifts.
As Khan remains behind bars, he has kept claiming that he’s not being provided several facilities, but to set the record straight, the government submitted documentary evidence of facilities being provided to the PTI founder in Adiala jail, rebutting his claims that he was being kept in solitary confinement.
The pictures shared with the court showed that the PTI founder was provided with several facilities that a common prisoner cannot imagine — since he’s a former prime minister.
Imran has an exercise bike and stretching belt for physical fitness, books, a separate kitchen, a special menu, an exclusive gallery for a walk, LED, a room cooler, and a study table.
In his presser, while referring to the interview, he reminded the people of how a “dictator” Imran would treat his political opponents — regardless of their gender.
“[They knew] Shehbaz Sharif had a pain in his back. Despite that, he was brought in an armoured car and pushed, and it is visible in the footages. Maryam Nawaz was in a 7×8 cell, where she could not even spread the prayer mat properly, she was not even allowed to walk.”
Recalling how former prime minister Nawaz Sharif was treated, Tarar said the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz president’s wife died while he was in prison. He claimed that fire was lit using wood outside Rana Sanaullah’s jail cell in extremely hot weather.
“These are his words, ‘I will take off the AC, TV, and not give you food, I will not allow them medicines or visits,” Tarar said, reminding the people about what Imran would say about his plans for imprisoned PML-N leaders.
In response to a question, Tarar said his government did not want to victimise its political victims and that the authorities also follow through on Imran’s requests for “desi murghi “.
Consulate attack
Talking about Saturday’s attack on the Pakistani consulate in Germany’s Frankfurt, the information minister said that the Foreign Office has recorded their protest with the German authorities.
“They have told them to ensure the Pakistani mission’s security and action be taken against those responsible for the security lapse,” the information minister said.
Tarar added that the National Database and Registration Authority’s (Nadra) chairman has been tasked to review the attack’s footage and check whether any Pakistani citizen was involved or was it just one nation’s people who attacked.
“This is unacceptable; we wrap our martyr’s bodies in this flag,” the information minister said, adding that Pakistan Army’s officers were martyred more compared to other countries.
The video of the incident went viral on the internet in which the Afghan nationals could be seen storming the Pakistani consulate. There are reports that they also tried burning the Pakistani flag.
According to media reports, the situation has drawn significant attention among the international communities, raising concerns about the diplomatic security of the installations.
Tarar said that if any Pakistani was found to be involved, as the PTI founder insights people to resort to violence, then their ID card and passport would be blocked and strict action would be taken.
“Khan sahib will not be able to save them,” Tarar warned, noting that no matter how many cases are overturned or decided in PTI’s favour, Imran will never be able to “prove his innocence”.
Social media disruptions
In response to a question about disruption in the internet, Tarar claimed that the internet services were disrupted across several countries and flights were also affected in the US.
“The government has nothing to do with it, it’s an overall problem,” he said, noting that the IT Ministry and the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) would inform about cyber security.
He added that if the government were to install a firewall, it would be for data and cyber security, not to gag freedom of expression. “This is as per my knowledge.”
He said that on social media, there are several issues — some people deserve to be killed, women harassment, and child pornography. “You can see what kind of content is being uploaded on Twitter (now X).
The information minister noted that the interim government had placed a ban on the social media platform as its policies did not meet with the nation’s compliance rate.
“There is some content that terrorists and anti-state elements use [to their benefit]. The interior ministry has taken this matter up in court,” Tarar added.
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