Report: Imran Khan arrested for inciting mutiny of Pakistani government officials

Pakistan’s top investigative agency has filed a case against jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan. File | Image credit: Reuters

According to a media report, Pakistan’s top investigative agency has initiated proceedings against imprisoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan for allegedly inciting government officials to mutiny through his social media posts.

A team of investigators and technical staff from the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) visited Adiala Jail to question Mr Khan, the founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf political party, in connection with a controversial post on his official X account.

“The FIA ​​​​has initiated proceedings against Mr Khan for inciting mutiny,” the dawn The newspaper referred to sources.

The FIA ​​officials returned empty-handed after 71-year-old Khan insisted that he would not attend the interrogation without the presence of his lawyers.

Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar had earlier said in a statement that the FIA ​​would investigate the handling of the PTI founder’s social media accounts, which were allegedly being used to create “chaos and anarchy” in the country and “undermine national security”.

Mr Tarar said an investigation was underway into who managed his social media accounts and whether such posts were made on his instigation or on the instructions of someone else.

He said there was a failed attempt to conspire against the incumbent Chief Justice and the heads of other institutions through which he tried to mobilise the population against two major state institutions.

“His actions were highly reprehensible,” Mr Tarar said.

Mr Khan, who has been detained in Adiala Jail since last year, has often criticised the powerful establishment in his lengthy posts on X.

On Friday, Mr Khan posted a long message on his X account, saying: “This is not the first time in the history of this country that an individual (meaning army chief General Asim Munir) has put the entire country at risk to secure his power. (General) Yahya Khan has also betrayed the Awami League and Sheikh Mujibur Rahman to stay in power.”

He recalled the events of 1971, when 90,000 soldiers were captured in the Bangladesh War of Independence and former President Zulfikar Ali Bhutto himself admitted the loss of 50,000 innocent lives.

“Today, the same story is repeating itself. Once again, one person has taken control and is destroying the system to prolong and strengthen his position of power,” he said, adding that a small, powerful elite has all the resources, power and control of the country.

The Supreme Court is the only institution that is somewhat safe from their influence, and now it too is under attack, he said.