Case of ‘inciting people to mutiny’ opened against Imran

Minister claims attempts were made to mobilise people against two state institutions

Photo: Al Jazeera

IN a different type of case instituted against former prime minister Imran Khan, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has now registered a case in which he has been accused of inciting government officers to mutiny, according to sources.

Daily ‘Dawn’ has reported that a team of FIA officials went to Mr Khan’s prison cell to question him about a controversial post on his official X account, but they had to return empty-handed because he insisted he would not join the investigation in the absence of his lawyers.

Earlier, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar had said in a statement that FIA would look into the handling of the incarcerated leader’s social media accounts, which were allegedly being used to “create chaos and anarchy” in the country and “undermining national security”, adds the APP news agency.

The investigators would find out who the handler of his social media accounts is and if such posts are being uploaded on his direct directives.

He said a botched attempt had been made to conspire against the sitting chief justice and heads of other institutions. Through his posts, Mr Khan had tried to mobilise the people against two major state institutions, the minister said.

He said the PTI founder would be investigated in this regard. The message posted on social media from the PTI founder’s account was “tantamount to sedition, and creating an anarchy” in the country.

In the post, he said, the PTI founder had once again likened himself to Sheikh Mujeeb-ur-Rehman, who was responsible for turning a Pakistani province into a separate country.

When asked about the newly instituted case against Mr Khan, a legal expert said the government lawyers have so far been unable to prove the allegations of corruption levelled at him. “Let’s see what they can do in this new type of a case. It’s often quite difficult to prove inciting people than to prove charges of corruption.

“But perhaps the prosecutors are more interested in just keeping the opposition leader behind bars than in actually proving any case of wrongdoing against him,” he added.