Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said on Friday that “the gloves have been taken off” and that anyone who protests outside Adiala Jail, where PTI founder Imran Khan is currently imprisoned, will be dealt with harshly.
In a gripping press conference today, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry attacked Imran for creating and spreading “anti-army” rhetoric.
On the other hand, PTI figures, in recent days, have held demonstrations outside the prison. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi had staged a sit-in outside the prison after being banned from meeting Imran for the eighth time, while Imran’s sisters also staged sit-ins on multiple occasions after they were banned from meeting the former prime minister.
speaking in Geographic news Speaking on ‘Naya Pakistan’, the minister stated that strict action will be taken against anyone creating law and order situation outside the prison, including arrests and registration of court cases.
“If anyone tries to create a law and order situation outside the prison, they will be treated very harshly. The gloves will be taken off,” Tarar emphasized.
He added that during her recent visit, Uzma violated jail rules and the law when she discussed politics with Imran, so she would not be allowed any further meetings with the former prime minister.
“The meetings are held in accordance with the law and jail rules,” he said, adding that the jail superintendent reported this. “It is written in the jail manual that legal and welfare matters can be discussed, but not politics. She violated these rules and has been prohibited from attending meetings.”
The minister added that when Uzma left the meeting, she said Imran “was angry and frustrated.”
“It means he cannot find a way out of punishment for the £190 million mega-corruption case and sees no political future for himself,” Tarar said.
“We truly believe he is mentally ill,” he added.
When asked about the Inter-Services Public Relations Director General’s press conference today, Tarar said he stood by every word on behalf of the civilian government and stated that Imran is a threat to the country.
“This person’s party prayed for the country to reach the brink of default and wrote to the IMF rejecting a bailout without thinking about the effect on citizens, chaos or the economy,” he said.
The Information Minister reiterated that on May 9, PTI supporters staged riots across the country and destroyed state properties, including monuments to martyred soldiers.
A day earlier, the federal government ruled out further meetings for Uzma and others who violated the prison code by meeting the PTI founder.
In a press conference with Justice Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar about the entire situation, the Information Minister announced: “There is no place in the [prison] rules for political discussions and political discussions were reported to have occurred, so gatherings are now prohibited for Uzma Khan. This will not happen.”
He added that reports of instigation against the State and its officials had emerged. “Gatherings are prohibited for anyone who violates the rules,” Attaullah said, adding that it was wrong for people to hold gatherings and then promote “Indian and Afghan stances and orchestrate publications against the army and its chief.”
