The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has scheduled a crucial hearing for January 21 on a petition that seeks judicial orders to block the social media account of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan on the platform X, formerly known as Twitter.
Court Proceedings and Key Arguments
A single-member bench of the IHC, led by Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir, will oversee the proceedings. The court had previously instructed all involved parties to submit their formal responses. In a written order following the last session, Justice Tahir noted that the authorities at Adiala Jail had already filed their reply. The remaining respondents were directed to present their arguments before the upcoming hearing date.
Representing the incarcerated PTI founder in this case is his lawyer, Salman Akram Raja. The petition was originally filed by a citizen named Ghulam Murtaza through his counsel, Barrister Zafarullah. The core allegation is that despite being in prison, Imran Khan continues to post what are described as illegal and provocative messages from his verified X account.
Adiala Jail's Detailed Rebuttal
In a comprehensive written reply submitted to the court, the Superintendent of Adiala Jail has categorically denied the claim that Imran Khan's social media account is being managed from within the prison facility. The authorities provided a detailed account of the security measures in place.
The jail administration informed the court that Imran Khan is under strict surveillance and has absolutely no access to any prohibited electronic devices, especially mobile phones. To enforce this, mobile signal jammers have been installed both inside the jail premises and in the surrounding areas. This measure effectively makes it impossible for any inmate, including Khan, to use a mobile phone or access the internet.
Strict Adherence to Jail Rules
The reply further elaborated on the standard operating procedures. It stated that under the prevailing jail regulations, Imran Khan is barred from engaging in any political discussions. However, the superintendent acknowledged that some visitors allegedly violate these restrictions by initiating political conversations during meetings.
Reflecting on past events, the jail official recalled that political instructions previously attributed to the former prime minister had contributed to social unrest. He firmly insisted that no such communication is possible now, given the complete lack of access to mobile or internet-enabled devices. The superintendent emphasized that the activity on the X account linked to the PTI founder "is clearly being managed from outside" the prison walls.
The statement concluded by clarifying that the prisoner is receiving only the routine facilities permitted under standard jail rules or those specifically ordered by the courts. None of these permitted facilities include any privileges for digital or online communication.
