An Islamabad court has “banned” imprisoned former Pakistani prime minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi from making public statements criticizing or defaming state institutions or officials.
According to a report by express tribuneJustice Bashir Javed Rana told the court during the hearing of a petition seeking fair trial against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder and his spouse that the military, judiciary, state institutions including military commanders ordered him to speak out against it. .
The court also directed the media to refrain from publishing “politically provocative statements targeting state institutions and their employees.”
“Such statements violate the civility of the judiciary and also obstruct the functioning of the judiciary, including the administration of justice,” the order added.
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The court order also directed prosecutors, defendants, and defense attorneys to avoid political or inflammatory statements that could undermine courtroom decorum.
Earlier this week, Imran Khan accused the country’s army chief, Asim Munir, of being directly responsible for the imprisonment of his wife, Bushra Bibi.
“If something happens to my wife, I will not leave Asim Munir. As long as I live, I will not leave Asim Munir. I will expose his unconstitutional and illegal actions,” he threatened.
Imran Khan, who served as prime minister from 2018 to 2022, is currently in prison on multiple charges, including a 14-year sentence against him and his wife for illegally selling state gifts.
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Mr Khan was arrested in August 2023 by the election administration for failing to declare assets he received from the sale of gifts valued at more than 140 million rupees (US$501,000) owned by the state and received while he was prime minister. He was sentenced to three years in prison by the commission, making him the first person to be imprisoned.
In January, Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi were sentenced to 14 years in prison following a separate investigation by the country’s top anti-corruption body on similar charges related to state gifts.
Bushra Bibi, 49, was convicted in a corruption case and an illegal marriage case with a former prime minister. She is currently being held at her Bani Gala residence on the outskirts of Islamabad.
(Information provided by agency)
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