https://arab.news/8r29x
- Khan criticized powerful people, saying they were putting the country’s stability at stake to maintain power
- Information minister say FIA is investigating who is operating Khan’s social media account and from where
ISLAMABAD: The government has directed the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to investigate a “threatening” social media post by former Prime Minister Imran Khan in which he criticized Pakistan’s military and judiciary, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar announced on Friday, adding a team of interrogators was currently questioning him in prison.
Since the collapse of his government in a parliamentary no-confidence vote in April 2022, Khan has repeatedly alleged that his ouster was orchestrated by US officials in Washington with the complicity of Pakistan’s military, accusations that both the US and Pakistani authorities have denied.
Khan, who has been imprisoned for over a year on multiple charges, has continuously criticized Pakistan’s military and intelligence services, accusing them of involvement in a failed assassination attempt on him during a protest in November 2022.
In a recent social media post, he likened the current military leadership to General Yahya Khan, accusing them of risking the country’s stability to maintain power. He also named Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa among the powerful individuals who he said were upholding the “system of injustice and brutality” against his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party.
“The FIA is investigating the matter of the threatening post by PTI’s founding chairman,” the information minister said in a statement.
“The founding chairman of PTI shared an anti-state post on social media and posted material against Pakistan’s integrity,” he continued, adding he had targeted the institutions of military and judiciary.
The minister said that an FIA team had arrived at Adiala Jail to determine who was operating Khan’s social media account and from where.
Tarrar did not elaborate on why he considered the ex-premier’s lengthy post threatening, though it urged Pakistanis to “come out for a street movement to protect our freedom.”
Khan’s legal spokesperson, Naeem Haider Panjutha, also confirmed that a “four-member team” from the FIA’s Cyber Crime Wing had gone to the prison to interrogate the former prime minister while condemning the development.