Information Minister Ataullah Tarar slammed Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan for claiming that he was imprisoned in a death cell when, in actuality, he was in a “presidential suite”, which is better than a middle-class family’s house.
“You are telling the West that you’re facing troubles, and you’re imprisoned in a death cell. This death cell is a ‘presidential suite’ in Adiala jail, which is better than a middle-class house,” Tarar said during a press conference in Islamabad.
Imran, in an interview with The Sunday Times through his lawyers, claimed that he was imprisoned in a death cell, where “terrorists” are kept to ensure “they have no contact with anyone”.
The 71-year-old cricketer-turned-politician has been in prison for almost a year now in three cases — the Toshakhana case, cipher case, and the un-Islamic marriage case. His wife, Bushra Bibi, is also behind bars.
However, a court had suspended his sentence in the Toshakhana case, while other courts overturned his convictions in the cipher and iddat cases, respectively.
While there were hopes for his and Bushra’s release in July, they were dashed when the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) arrested them on fresh charges related to the sale of state gifts.
As Khan remains behind bars, he has kept claiming that he’s not being provided several facilities, but to set the record straight, the government submitted documentary evidence of facilities being provided to the PTI founder in Adiala jail, rebutting his claims that he was being kept in solitary confinement.
The pictures shared with the court showed that the PTI founder was provided with several facilities that a common prisoner cannot imagine — since he’s a former prime minister.
Imran has an exercise bike and stretching belt for physical fitness, books, a separate kitchen, a special menu, an exclusive gallery for a walk, LED, a room cooler, and a study table.
In his presser, while referring to the interview, he reminded the people of how a “dictator” Imran would treat his political opponents — regardless of their gender.
“[They knew] Shehbaz Sharif had a pain in his back. Despite that, he was brought in an armoured car and pushed, and it is visible in the footages. Maryam Nawaz was in a 7×8 cell, where she could not even spread the prayer mat properly, she was not even allowed to walk.”
Recalling how former prime minister Nawaz Sharif was treated, Tarar said the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz president’s wife died while he was in prison. He claimed that fire was lit using wood outside Rana Sanaullah’s jail cell in extremely hot weather.
“These are his words, ‘I will take off the AC, TV, and not give you food, I will not allow them medicines or visits,” Tarar said, reminding the people about what Imran would say about his plans for imprisoned PML-N leaders.
