SRINAGAR: Former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan spent his 73rd birthday behind bars at Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi, marking the second year in a row he has celebrated the day in custody. Khan, who is serving a sentence related to the illegal sale of state gifts, continues to maintain a strong presence on social media, where his official X (formerly Twitter) account remains active and regularly shares posts critical of state institutions.
The Pakistani government, citing a series of posts it labels as “anti-state,” has launched a formal offensive to silence this digital presence. Federal State Minister for Law, Barrister Aqeel Malik, publicly confirmed that authorities are in direct communication with the management of X, urging them to remove Khan’s account for sharing content deemed critical of the army and state institutions.
A Digital Standoff: The Battle for Khan’s X Account
The confrontation over Khan’s social media reached a new level last month when the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) interrogated the jailed leader. The focus was on posts that contained sharp criticism of Army Chief Gen Asim Munir and other key institutions.
According to sources, Khan refused to cooperate with the investigation, declining to reveal who manages the account on his behalf. He asserted his legal right to have his counsel present during any questioning.
A recent post from his X account outlined the topics of the interrogation, which included his views on:
· Afghanistan policy
· Pakistan’s broader foreign policy
· Criticisms of what he terms the “Asim Law”
· Comparisons between Gen Munir and historical military figures
· Allegations of psychological torture during his imprisonment
Political Reactions and Allegations of Foreign Influence
The situation has drawn sharp reactions from across the political spectrum. In a significant escalation, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif suggested that India might be orchestrating the narrative on Khan’s X account—an allegation that senior PTI leader Moonis Elahi dismissed as a “desperate attempt to silence dissent and an insult to the intelligence of the Pakistani people.”
Imran Khan Spends 73rd Birthday in Adiala Jail: Rallies and Family Tributes
Despite the political crackdown, supporters of Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party rallied to celebrate his birthday. Gatherings were held outside his Zaman Park residence in Lahore, where a significant police presence was deployed to prevent larger marches. A cake-cutting ceremony was attended by senior PTI leaders, including Salman Akram Raja and Shaukat Basra.
The most poignant tribute came from his son, Kasim Khan, who posted on X: “On his 73rd birthday, our father remains locked in a death cell—790 days without his family, without his doctors, without his lawyers. Yet his courage endures. We must not give up, because he never will.”
The PTI reported that similar rallies were held in other parts of the country, including Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh, and Gilgit Baltistan, vowing to continue their struggle for his release.
Analysis: This episode highlights the growing tension between state authority and digital political dissent in Pakistan. The government’s direct appeal to a global tech platform to remove a leading opposition figure’s account signals a new phase in its efforts to control the narrative, setting a critical precedent for free speech and political expression in the country.
This report has been compiled from verified sources, including official statements and wire service inputs, to ensure accuracy and comprehensiveness.