- Info minister vows strict action to maintain law and order outside jail.
- Says global media being used to push propaganda against Pakistan.
- Minister says curbs on Imran meeting enforced under prison rules.
Information Minister Attaullah Tarar on Thursday said the government has stopped Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan’s sister, Uzma Khan, from meeting him at Adiala jail.
Addressing a press conference along with Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar in Islamabad, the information minister vowed strict action against anyone found disturbing law and order outside the Rawalpindi prison.
“There should be no doubt that directives have been issued to maintain law and order outside the jail. Anyone found disturbing the peace will be dealt with iron hands,” he added.
Tarar assailed the PTI for spreading unfounded claims about Khan’s health, saying that Uzma herself confirmed the former premier was safe and sound.
“No prisoner has ever been provided a jogging machine,” Tarar said, while accusing a female PTI leader of feeding Indian and Afghan media with claims that the PTI founder’s life was under threat.
Referring to the PTI founder’s past remarks, Tarar said that Khan — during his premiership — used to “run his hand over his face and say he would get so and so arrested, remove their AC”.
Tarar further said that the international media was being used to push propaganda against Pakistan.
“His [PTI founder] three sisters create law and order situations outside the jail. This cannot continue — you meet inside and run propaganda outside. You were given an opportunity, and whoever violated the rules has had their meetings stopped.”
The minister said that they, too, used to visit prisoners, but “never created a law and order situation”.
Tarar vowed to establish the writ of the state, saying there would be no more “spectacles outside Adiala every day”.
“Meetings have a purpose — to ask about well being,” he said, adding that the PTI founder, during the meetings, says that the state should be brought down.
“You want to weaken the country’s defence? Damage its sovereignty? You want to challenge a state that defeated India?” he asked.
The minister then assailed the former premier over what he called his “hypocrisy” and “so many U turns”.
“A person should have character. He [Khan] has neither character nor manliness,” Tarar said.
His remarks came shortly after Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister Sohail Afridi was denied a meeting with Khan for the ninth time since his election to the top seat in the province.
Authorities, however, had allowed Uzma to meet the former premier on December 2 after the PTI raised concerns about his health.
‘Jail superintendent’s prerogative’
Prior to Tarar’s talk, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar clarified that restrictions on meetings with the PTI founder were being enforced under the Pakistan Prison Rules, stressing that the matter squarely fell within the domain of the Punjab government, which oversees Adiala jail.
Azam said the prison administration was legally bound to follow the Constitution and relevant laws. “The PTI founder is a convicted prisoner by a competent court of jurisdiction,” he noted, adding that his visitation rights were determined entirely by the jail manual.
Citing Rule 265 of the Pakistan Prison Rules, the minister said meetings for a superior-class prisoner were limited to one a week and capped at six visitors.
He added that the rule barred political discussions during such interactions and prohibited the publicity of conversations or letters, including through press conferences or social media posts.
The minister also pointed to Rule 548, which requires that all prisoner meetings be held under the supervision of the jail superintendent, while Rule 557 empowers the supervising officer to terminate a meeting if the conversation or conduct is deemed prejudicial to public order or peace.
According to Azam, Rule 560 allows the jail superintendent to stop meetings if he believes the interaction could become public in a way that may incite unrest. He further referenced Rule 561, which pertains to the abuse of privilege.
“The entire set of rules gives a prominent and central role to the jail superintendent,” the minister said, reiterating that all procedures were being carried out in accordance with established regulations.
