Imran’s ‘presidential suite’ in jail better than middle-class house: Tarar

ISLAMABAD: Information Minister Attaullah 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”.

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 footage. Maryam Nawaz was in a 7x8 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 a 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 and 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 opponents and that the authorities also follow through on Imran’s requests for “desi murghi “.

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 — statements like “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 info 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,” he added.

According to the information minister, “Some armed people from political parties, including the PTI”, attended the Aman (peace) March organised by Bannu traders and created chaos by resorting to firing near Bannu Cantt’s wall on Friday where eight troops were martyred last week.

He questioned why “armed groups of some political parties” attended the traders’ event and what were their motives behind opening fire at the sensitive site of Bannu Cantonment’s wall.

He blamed the Imran-founded party for being “a sympathiser for the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP)” and wanted the “politics of bodies” in the country.

The minister directly blamed the PTI workers for their alleged involvement in the Bannu Aman March’s firing incident and termed it a “conspiracy” of the former ruling party to create chaos in the country.

He categorically rejected the armed forces’ involvement in the firing incident during the Bannu rally, saying some people tried to blame the Pakistan Army for the incident for their ulterior motives.

He also rejected the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government’s statement on the incident, as well as its announcement to hold an inquiry into the incident as the ruling party’s associates were behind the attack.