Categories Courts

Petitioner Moves IHC to Ban Imran Khan’s Social Media Posts, Terming Them Illegal

ISLAMABAD – While invoking jurisdiction of the Islamabad High Court – a petitioner sought directives for action against continued dissemination of tweets from the official social media account of former Prime Minister and PTI Chairman, Imran Khan Niazi, who is currently imprisoned at Adiala Jail after conviction.

Barrister Zafarullah Khan has filed the plea on behalf of advocate Ghulam Murtaza Khan, who alleges that the tweets are illegal, unlawful, mischievous, malicious, and criminal, raising critical questions about prison security and the rule of law.

The petitioner has made heads of the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) and the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), the Superintendent of Central Jail Adiala, Imran Khan himself, and the current PTI Chairman, Gohar Ali Khan as respondents in the matter.

The petitioner lays out three plausible scenarios for the origin of the tweets: either Imran Khan is being unlawfully facilitated within the jail, his visitors are receiving instructions from him and posting the content, or his account is being operated by third parties outside the prison to “mislead the public and spread anti-State illegal propaganda.”

Citing the Prison Rules 1978, which prohibit prisoners from using mobile phones, internet, and social media, the petitioner contends that the continued posting of tweets from the @ImranKhanPTI handle is a clear violation. The content, it is submitted, is “derogatory, defamatory, and inciteful,” targeting public functionaries, constitutional office-holders, and the armed forces, thereby attempting to “malign State institutions and spread hatred amongst the public.”

The petitioner alleges while describing constitutional and statutory violations allegedly committed through these tweets. He claims the content breaches fundamental constitutional articles, including those pertaining to loyalty to the state (Article 5) and equality before the law (Articles 4 and 25). Furthermore, the petitioner asserts that the tweets constitute statutory offenses under the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC), such as promoting enmity (Section 153-A) and public mischief (Section 505). It also invokes the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA), alleging the content falls under offenses like cyber terrorism (Section 10) and hate speech (Section 11).Highlighting statutory duty of the PTA under the Pakistan Telecommunication (Re-organization) Act, 1996, the petitioner urged the court to direct the Authority to block such content, stating that its ongoing dissemination is “prejudicial to the country’s security and integrity.”

The petitioner also urged the court to issue directives to the NCCIA and the PTA to investigate and identify those responsible for operating the social media account while asking the PTA to immediately block and remove the controversial content. He also sought directives for the Superintendent of Adiala Jail to ensure strict adherence to prison regulations besides directing Imran Khan to cease all alleged illegal activities. He also prayed to the court to direct Gohar Ali Khan and any other “aiders and abettors” to stop re-circulating the contentious tweets.

 

Author

Khudayar Mohla, Managing Partner Mohla & Mohla, Founder of the Law Today Pakistan,

Managing Partner at Mohla & Mohla - Advocates and Legal Consultants, Islamabad, Founder of The Law Today Pakistan (TLTP) Newswire Service. Former President Press Association of Supreme Court of Pakistan with over two decades of coverage of defining judicial moments - including the dissolution and restoration of Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, Asif Ali Zardari NAB cases, Syed Yousaf Raza Gillani contempt proceedings, Panama Papers case against Mian Nawaz Sharif, matters involving Imran Khan, and the high treason trial of former Army Chief and President Pervez Musharraf. He now practises law and teaches Jurisprudence, International Law, Civil and Criminal Law. Can be reached at: mohla@lawtoday.com.pk

More From Author

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

You May Also Like

Imran Khan defamation case, Rs10 billion defamation suit, Shehbaz Sharif defamation case, Supreme Court Pakistan, SC bench defamation, Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb, PTI founder defamation, Lahore High Court order, Punjab government impleaded, Defamation Ordinance 2002, review petition Supreme Court, right of defence closed, Justice Muhammad Hashim Khan Kakar, Panama Papers bribe allegation, defamation cases six months, SC defamation appeals, trial court Lahore, Justice Ayesha Malik bench, defamation proceedings stayed, PTI legal battle

Defamation Cases Must Be Decided Within Six Months, Says SC Judge

ISLAMABAD: While hearing set of appeals relating to defamation matter on Tuesday top court Justice…

Chief Justice Yahya Afridi, judicial reforms Pakistan, Supreme Court reform session, Reform Action Plan RAP, death penalty cases reduction, case pendency Supreme Court, court digitization Pakistan, e-courts Pakistan, Federal Ombudsman Naveed Kamran Baloch, Law and Justice Commission Pakistan, Federal Judicial Academy, alternative dispute resolution Pakistan, case management Supreme Court, KPIs judiciary Pakistan, e-payment court fees, Public Facilitation Centre Supreme Court, barcoding file tracking, death sentence appeals Pakistan, SC case disposal rate, transparency justice system Pakistan, Khudayar Mohla

All Remaining Death Sentence Appeals to Be Fixed for Hearing Within 30 Days: SC

ISLAMABAD : Chief Justice of Pakistan, Justice Yahya Afridi on Tuesday chaired the tenth interactive…

Khudayar Mohla, Sindh High Court, SHC Karachi, Federal Investigation Agency, FIA Pakistan, Pest Management Services (Private) Limited, Methyl Bromide import, illegal Indian imports, Justice Adnan Iqbal Chaudhry, Justice Abdul Mobeen Lakho, Enquiry No. ENQ-ACC-KHI-1/26, Imports and Exports (Control) Act 1950, Federal Investigation Agency Act 1974, Agricultural Pesticides Ordinance 1971, Section 160 CrPC, writ petition dismissal, jurisdictional challenge, forged import permits, trade with India, Anti-Corruption Circle Karachi, pesticide import regulations, chemical smuggling investigation, Paras Ali Lodhi, Saddam Hussain Chang, Shazia Hanjra Deputy Attorney General, Department of Plant Protection, Pakistan trade law, industrial chemical enquiry.

SHC Upholds FIA Jurisdiction in Probe into Prohibited Chemical Imports

KARACHI: While dismissing a plea seeking directives against the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), a division…