IHC asks how Imran Khan X case proceeds without lawyer

Islamabad – The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday questioned how the case concerning PTI founder Imran Khan’s X account could move forward if his lawyer was being denied access. Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir, presiding over the hearing, highlighted concerns about the former prime minister’s inability to consult with his counsel regarding a petition related to “inflammatory posts” allegedly made from his X account.

PTI leader Salman Akram Raja, representing Imran, told the court that he had not been allowed to meet his client for consultation since the case was filed. The judge noted that responses had been received from the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) and jail authorities but said that final arguments in the case could only be presented on February 24 if Raja was able to meet Imran.

Justice Tahir directed Raja to submit a detailed response regarding the denial of meetings and asked the advocate general of Islamabad to provide a written reply as well. During the hearing, state counsel mentioned that a larger bench was handling cases involving prison meetings, prompting the judge to remark that the case could not proceed until Raja met his client.

Raja argued that despite a case being filed against him, he had still not been allowed to meet Imran, who is reportedly being kept in solitary confinement. The court reminded the authorities that a November 4, 2025, order had already permitted such meetings, but it had not been implemented for two months. Justice Tahir said an order regarding the meeting would be issued and emphasized that the case could only progress if Raja was allowed to meet Imran.

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The court also expressed dissatisfaction with PTA’s response to the petition, calling it “unsatisfactory,” and adjourned the hearing until February 24. Recently, Imran Khan’s family and party leaders have faced restrictions on visiting him. In December, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Tariq Fazal Chaudhry had announced that meetings with the former premier would remain suspended until February 8.

In September, a petition was filed in the IHC challenging the alleged inflammatory posts made from the official X account of the PTI founder during his imprisonment.

The petition was filed by citizen Ghulam Murtaza Khan through Barrister Zafarullah Khan Advocate, stating that the dissemination of “provocative and malicious” content from the account of a convicted prisoner is unlawful and contrary to prison rules.

The petitioner requested the court to direct the National Cybercrime Investigation Agency and the PTA to conduct a thorough investigation to determine who has been operating the PTI founder’s account while he remains incarcerated.

The petition further sought directions for blocking and removing such content from social media platforms.

It also called upon the court to instruct the jail superintendent to ensure that the prisoner is not allowed to access or operate social media in violation of jail regulations, terming such activity “unconstitutional and illegal.”

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A written reply submitted to the court by Adiala jail authorities last year denied that the X account was being operated from within the jail.

Superintendent of the Adiala jail stated the PTI founder was under strict surveillance and had no access to any prohibited device, “particularly mobile phones”