‘Locked in death cell for terrorists,’ claims Imran in rare interview with UK publication – Pakistan

Incarcerated former premier Imran Khan has claimed he’s being “caged like a terrorist”, and is being “denied basic prisoner and human rights”, British publication The Sunday Times reported.

His remarks got here throughout a rare interview from behind bars with the outlet, carried out by way of his legal professionals, as — in line with the article — he isn’t allowed pencil and paper.

Imran, 71, has been imprisoned on the Adiala Jail for virtually a yr upon his conviction in three circumstances — the Toshakhana reference, the cipher case, and the Iddat case, in which his spouse, Bushra Bibi, can also be jailed.

Imran’s sentence in the Toshakhana reference was suspended on April 1 whereas he was acquitted by the Islamabad High Court (IHC) in the cipher case in June. Various courts have additionally acquitted him in a number of different circumstances filed towards him because the occasions of May 9, 2023 — the day when his first arrest had brought on riots throughout the nation, following which the state launched a crackdown towards him and his get together.

An Islamabad district and classes courtroom had additionally just lately accepted the appeals filed by Imran and his partner towards their conviction in the Iddat case. Shortly after the courtroom acquitted him in the mentioned case, nevertheless, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) re-arrested Imran and his partner in a brand new Toshakhana case, leaving his attainable launch from jail hanging in the steadiness.

“I am confined in a 7ft by 8ft death cell, typically reserved for terrorists to ensure they have no contact with anyone,” he informed The Sunday Times.

“It is solitary confinement with barely any space to move. I am under constant surveillance by the agencies, being recorded 24/7, and I am denied basic prisoner and human rights such as visitation,” he mentioned.

Earlier this month, a United Nations working group on human rights mentioned the circumstances towards Imran have been “without legal basis” and politically motivated to exclude him from the political enviornment. The group additionally demanded the previous cricketer be launched and compensated.

Imran and his spouse sought aid from excessive courts after their newest spherical of arrests and remand approvals. He was, nevertheless, denied bail by the Lahore High Court for allegedly inciting his supporters in the May 9 riots final yr.

To additional tighten the noose round Imran, the federal government mentioned earlier this week it could impose a ban on his get together, PTI.

“In view of the foreign funding case, May 9 riots, and the cipher episode as well as the resolution passed in the US, we believe that there is very credible evidence present to have the PTI banned,” Information Minister Attaullah Tarar had mentioned.

“We are going to impose a ban on PTI and we believe that Article 17 of the Constitution gives the government the right to ban political parties, and this matter will be referred to the Supreme Court.”

The announcement attracted flak from throughout the political spectrum, with stakeholders from completely different events terming the transfer “undemocratic.” The US State Department additionally expressed its apprehension on the transfer, saying: “Banning a political party would be of great concern to us”.

The data minister mentioned that the federal government would additionally submit a evaluation petition to the apex courtroom towards final week’s verdict which declared that the PTI could be eligible for reserved seats for ladies and minorities.

The prime courtroom had given its verdict in PTI’s favour following the closure of listening to on a set of appe¬als moved by the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) towards the denial of reserved seats for ladies and non-Muslims to it by the Peshawar High Court (PHC) and the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).

PTI-backed candidates, who had contested and received the February 8 elections as independents after their get together was stripped of its election image, had joined the SIC to type a coalition of comfort.

The prime courtroom on July 12 annulled the choice of the PHC whereas additionally declaring the choice of the election regulator null and void, terming it towards the Constitution.

Tarar mentioned that concerning the apex courtroom’s verdict, an impression was created that the get together was given aid with out asking for it.

“However, Tehreek-i-Insaf was not a party in the case, the members [in question] did not claim to be PTI candidates, and all of them submitted SIC affidavits and joined the party”, he mentioned, including that in line with the manifesto of the SIC, a non-Muslim couldn’t grow to be a member of the get together which is why the get together couldn’t get minorities’ seats.

“The [SIC] MNAs never expressed their desire to join the PTI before the Supreme Court, therefore, given the legal inaccuracy in this decision, the ruling governmental party and its allies have decided to submit a review petition against the Supreme Court’s verdict,” Tarar mentioned.

The authorities later submitted a evaluation petition to the apex courtroom calling for the decision in the case of the reserved seats to be recalled and its operation suspended.

Referencing SC’s ruling in the reserved seats case, Imran informed The Sunday Times that his get together “secured a significant majority of approximately 175 seats, not the 93 that were officially acknowledged after being usurped”.

He mentioned he spends most of his time in the jail planning for the long run, insisting that he might be again.

“Despite being caged, the entire country looks to me for hope and resilience. Most importantly, my prayers keep me steadfast, my belief in God assures me that justice will prevail over tyranny.”