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ISLAMABAD:
The country’s cybercrime watchdog has told the capital’s High Court that former Prime Minister Imran Khan refused to cooperate with it in its investigations into the PTI founder’s alleged social media posts from inside a prison.
The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) has submitted a report to the Islamabad High Court (IHC) which is currently hearing a petition filed by a citizen, Ghulam Murtaza, seeking blocking of Imran Khan’s X account.
Imran Khan, detained at Adiala prison in Rawalpindi since September 2023, regularly publishes messages on social networks, notably on X, to criticize the government and state institutions.
According to the agency, NCCIA teams visited the PTI founder several times at Adiala jail – in connection with an earlier case registered against Imran on September 13, 2024 for allegedly posting anti-state messages – with the court’s permission.
“[However]he [Imran Khan] “He was uncooperative and did not disclose who was using and operating his social media accounts,” the report said.
The NCCIA said it had already registered investigations against the former prime minister in relation to controversial posts.
On January 21, the IHC, while hearing the petition seeking closure of Imran’s social media accounts, said it could go further only if the authorities allowed the PTI founder’s lawyer in the Salman Akram Raja case to meet his client in jail.
An IHC bench headed by Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir also sought a written response from Islamabad’s advocate general in a contempt of court petition filed by Raja over the authorities’ failure to arrange his meeting with Imran despite a court order.
During the hearing, Justice Tahir also termed the response submitted by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) as unsatisfactory.
He observed that responses had been received from prison authorities, the PTA and other respondents, but noted that the PTA’s response did not match the nature of the court petition.
Addressing the PTA council, Justice Tahir said the authority should compare its response with the actual relief sought in the petition.
During the hearing, Raja informed the court that he had been unable to consult with his client in connection with the case, despite a court order dated November 4 allowing a legal meeting.
The court noted that final arguments in the Account X case would be heard on February 24, subject to the meeting being arranged.
The government lawyer argued that issues related to inmate meetings were within the jurisdiction of a broader court. However, Justice Tahir noted that the case could not proceed unless the petitioner’s lawyer was allowed to meet his client.
