Pakistan’s Data Minister Attaullah Tarar has dismissed allegations of unfair therapy of jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan, saying he seems to be “having fun with holidays” slightly than serving a jail sentence.
Khan, the founding father of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) social gathering, has been incarcerated in Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail since mid-2023 in reference to a number of instances. His social gathering has accused authorities of denying him fundamental rights and stopping key conferences.
“For my part, the PTI founder is definitely having fun with holidays as an alternative of dealing with a jail time period,” Tarar stated throughout an interview with Geo Information on Wednesday. He added that Khan is afforded privileges that no different political chief has obtained, together with frequent guests a number of occasions every week.
Tarar additionally underlined that the PTI chief is having fun with intensive jail facilities and entry not given to others.
His feedback got here within the wake of a contemporary controversy over a gathering between Khan, 72, and his social gathering members at Adiala Jail. A number of PTI leaders have been seen blaming each other for creating hurdles whereas making an attempt to conduct conferences with Khan at Adiala jail.
On Tuesday, PTI chairman Gohar Ali Khan claimed the social gathering had solely authorised “two attorneys” to satisfy Khan, but 5 had been allowed in, sparking inside criticism. Gohar additionally condemned the jail authorities for allegedly stopping Khan’s sisters from visiting him.
Responding to PTI’s broader claims of political victimisation, Tarar dismissed them as baseless, stating that the federal authorities doesn’t have time to conspire for PTI’s demise.
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He added that inside strife throughout the social gathering is responsible for its present troubles.
He pointed to ongoing infighting throughout the PTI, saying it’s now cut up into two factions — one led by Khan’s sister Aleema Khan, and one other by his spouse Bushra Bibi. “I actually don’t know which faction of the PTI was stopping the opposite from assembly him [Imran Khan],” the minister remarked.
Tarar additional criticised the PTI’s political technique, saying the social gathering itself seems confused concerning the points it needs to debate or negotiate.