The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday questioned how proceedings in the case concerning PTI founder Imran Khan’s X account could continue if authorities were denying his counsel access to him.
The remarks were made by Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir, who was presiding over a hearing on a petition against the incarcerated former premier regarding “inflammatory posts” made from an X account operated in Imran’s name.
During today’s hearing, PTI leader Salman Akram Raja, who is representing Imran in the case, told the court that he had not been able to meet his client for consultation.
“The court has received responses from Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) and jail authorities,” Justice Tahir said.
Addressing Raja, Justice Tahir said that “final arguments in the case will be presented on February 24 if you meet (Imran)”.
The judge then directed Raja to submit a detailed response in court in connection with the contempt petition over the denial of meetings with the PTI founder. The court also issued instructions to advocate general Islamabad to submit a written response in the contempt case.
Justice Tahir was then informed by the state counsel that “a larger bench was hearing cases involving meetings”.
At this, Justice Tahir said, “They (defence) are saying that until the meeting is held, how will the case proceed any further?”
Raja argued that “a case has been filed against me, yet I am not allowed to meet my client,” adding that he has not been able to meet the incarcerated party founder “ever since the case was filed”.
The court instructed the state counsel to submit a written response on the matter.
The defence counsel further recalled that the IHC had issued an order on November 4 allowing meetings; however, “it has not been implemented for two months”.
“Should I go there today for a meeting?” the PTI leader asked, adding that the party founder was “being kept in solitary confinement”.
Justice Tahir maintained that an order will be issued regarding the meeting.
“The case will only move forward if we allow him (Raja) a meeting,” the judge said to the state counsel.
As the hearing continued, the court also found the response submitted by PTA to the petition “unsatisfactory”.
“Look at what the writ petition is and what your response is,” Justice Tahir, expressing displeasure, said to the PTA counsel.
The hearing was adjourned till February 24.
On Nov 4, 2025, Justice Tahir issued a directive to Adiala jail authorities to ensure that Raja is allowed to meet Imran in relation to the case.
The court had also instructed the deputy attorney general and the state counsel to immediately convey the order to the jail administration through a phone call.
The former premier’s family and party leaders have recently faced increased restrictions in meeting him. In December last year, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Tariq Fazal Chaudhry said that meetings with the incarcerated leader would remain suspended till February 8.
The petition
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.”
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”
