The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday directed Adiala jail authorities to ensure lawyer Salman Akram Raja is permitted to meet Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan for consultations on a petition seeking a ban on anti-state content being shared through the former prime minister’s social media account.
The court also instructed the deputy attorney general and the state counsel to immediately convey the order to the jail administration through a phone call, while a written order directing the additional attorney general to inform the Adiala jail superintendent about the ruling was also issued. The order states jail authorities must ensure the meeting takes place on Monday.
Separately, Khan’s sisters met their incarcerated brother at Adiala Jail, with Aleema saying the family would continue fighting for the PTI founder’s release. “We will keep fighting for Imran Khan. You may jail us, but we will not abandon this cause,” she said.
Another of Khan’s sisters, Uzma, later told media her brother had alleged the country no longer had any Constitution or law and was operating under “Asim Law,” a reference to Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir. Accusing the Army chief of “oppression” against his party and family, Khan said he would “prefer death over accepting slavery.”
He reiterated his pleas for the country to adopt a “clear-cut” stance of “either death or freedom,” maintain this would ensure their victory.
During his talk with his sisters, Khan vowed that the PTI would neither negotiate with the incumbent government, nor the establishment, claiming he did not expect any positive outcome in either circumstance. “Regarding negotiations, the decision will be made by our allies in the Tehreek Tahafuz Aain Pakistan, Mahmood Khan Achakzai and Allama Raja Nasir Abbas,” he added.
The PTI founder also directed all PTI office-bearers, lawmakers, and lawyers to secure dates for hearing of his cases, alleging they were “being deliberately prolonged” to prevent his release. He also expressed “complete trust” in Raja, saying all instructions to the party would be conveyed through the lawyer. “It is Salman Akram Raja’s responsibility to ensure implementation of all instructions,” he added.