Imran didn’t write any article, claims official

IG prisons says ex-PM not provided with paper and pen facilities in his jail cell

RAWALPINDI:

Jail authorities have claimed that the article of PTI founding chairman and deposed premier Imran Khan published in a British weekly newspaper was not his own writing.

IG Prisons Mian Farooq Nazir said Imran’s “room-like barrack” at Adiala Jail had been declared a high security zone and was monitored round the clock with cameras, staff and other secret devices.

He further maintained that anyone who came to meet the PTI founding chairman was searched according to the jail rules.

The official added that the security personnel posted at the barrack were also searched at the beginning and end of their duty.

According to the IG prisons, Imran was only allowed to read books.

He continued that even those books were given to him after thoroughly examining them.

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The official said the deposed premier was not provided with paper and pen facilities in his jail cell.

“There is no such means that Imran Khan can write something in jail and it can leave the prison,” he claimed.

The IG prisons vehemently denied that the article published in the British weekly newspaper was written by Imran himself.

In an opinion piece carried by the British publication allegedly written by Imran at Adiala Jail, the deposed premier allegedly expressed fears that the election scheduled for February 8 might not take place at all.

He purportedly added that even if the polls were held, they would be a “disaster and a farce” as the PTI was being “denied” its basic right to campaign.

A day earlier, caretaker Federal Information Minister Murtaza Solangi announced that the government would write to the British publication that carried the article allegedly written by Imran.

In a social media post, the minister added that it was “puzzling and disconcerting” that a media outlet published an article in the name of an individual who was in jail and had been convicted.

Solangi maintained if “jailed convicts” were free to publish articles, they would only “air their one-sided grievances”.

He stressed the need to uphold ethical standards and promote responsible journalism.

(With input from our News Desk in Karachi)