'Extremist' Imran Khan's Adiala jail meetings 'completely banned': minister

• Info minister says PTI founder holds "Taliban-like mindset".
• Dialogue with PTI only possible without party founder: Tarar.
• Tarar says PTI lawmakers not standing with Imran's narrative.
  

Information Minister Attaullah Tarar on Friday announced a blanket ban on meetings with incarcerated Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan at Adiala jail, calling him an "extremist consumed by war hysteria".

His comments came hours after Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry termed the PTI founder a "mentally ill person" and a threat to national security.

"Prisoner meetings are held in accordance with the law and established rules. There are no meetings; all meetings are banned," Tarar said while speaking on Geo News’ programme "Naya Pakistan".

The minister vowed swift and firm action against anyone attempting to disrupt law and order outside the prison.

"It is now time to restore the writ of the state. There will be no jail meetings, nor will gatherings be allowed," he stated.

According to jail rules, the jail superintendent is present during any meeting, he said, noting that officials had reported political discussions and instructions being issued during the meetings.

"Permission will not be given to advance the enemy's agenda from inside the jail," he stated.

The PTI founder has been in jail since August 2023, following his removal from office through a no-confidence vote in April 2022. He faces a plethora of cases ranging from corruption to terrorism.

The ruling coalition has been accusing the PTI founder of attempts to sabotage the country’s economic progress and inciting people against the state and its institutions.

Tarar said that Khan and his party sought to push the country into default. "Letters were sent to the IMF [International Monetary Fund] to force Pakistan into default. Attacks were carried out on military installations on May 9."

The information minister noted that the former premier was creating an anti-state narrative because he could not see his own political future.

Tarar claimed that PTI lawmakers were frustrated with Khan, saying they believed he had "trapped them".

"“PTI lawmakers say the PTI founder is an extremist who calls Osama bin Laden a martyr," he said, adding that the former premier held a "Taliban-like mindset" and considered "terrorists his friends".

"This extremist person is consumed by war hysteria — how long will even his own party members tolerate him?" he asked.

Meanwhile, the minister said that the federal government was seriously considering imposing a governor's rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

"PTI members are not standing with his [PTI founder] narrative," he added.

The minister also announced plans for registering cases against those creating narratives against the country.

"They now have no future; their political space and narrative will be restricted," he added.

When asked whether there was still time for reconciliation with the PTI, Tarar responded: "They wasted their chance. There will be no dialogue with anyone who promotes chaos, terrorism or extremist thinking."

However, he said that the PTI could initiate talks in the parliament without the party founder. "Come, apologise, and admit that your leader issued such filthy statements. Show remorse — only then can anything be reconsidered."

The information minister said there was no option left except for the PTI to negotiate without the former prime minister.