Imran's Adiala 'presidential suite' better than middle-class house: information minister
1. Ataullah Tarar recalls how "dictator" Imran would treat his political opponents, says he's being provided all facilities
**Information Minister Attaullah Tarar Criticizes Imran Khan as a "Dictator"**
- **Consulate Attack Addressed with Germany**: Information Minister Attaullah Tarar announced that the issue of the recent attack on the Pakistani consulate in Frankfurt has been taken up with German authorities.
- **PML-N Leader Defends Ban on X (formerly Twitter)**: Tarar defended the interim government's decision to ban the social media platform, citing non-compliance with national regulations.
**Imran Khan's Imprisonment**
Information Minister Attaullah Tarar criticized Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan, labeling him a "dictator." He refuted Khan’s claims of being held in a death cell, asserting that Khan was in a "presidential suite" at Adiala jail, which is better than a typical middle-class home.
During a press conference in Islamabad, Tarar said, "You are telling the West that you're facing troubles and are imprisoned in a death cell. This death cell is a 'presidential suite' in Adiala jail, which is better than a middle-class house." This statement was in response to Khan's interview with The Sunday Times, where he claimed to be held in a death cell typically reserved for terrorists.
Imran Khan, 71, has been in prison for nearly a year on charges including the Toshakhana case, the cipher case, and the un-Islamic marriage case. His wife, Bushra Bibi, is also incarcerated. Although a court suspended his sentence in the Toshakhana case and overturned convictions in the cipher and iddat cases, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) arrested them on new charges related to the sale of state gifts.
The government provided documentary evidence to counter Khan’s claims of mistreatment, showing that he had access to numerous facilities, including an exercise bike, books, a separate kitchen, a special menu, an exclusive gallery for walking, an LED TV, a room cooler, and a study table.
Tarar reminded the public of Imran's harsh treatment of political opponents, highlighting instances of mistreatment of PML-N leaders such as Shehbaz Sharif, Maryam Nawaz, and Nawaz Sharif.
**Consulate Attack**
Regarding the attack on the Pakistani consulate in Frankfurt, Tarar stated that the Foreign Office had lodged a protest with Germany, demanding enhanced security and accountability for the lapse. He mentioned that the National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) was reviewing footage to determine if any Pakistani citizens were involved. He warned that if found guilty, their ID cards and passports would be blocked.
**Social Media Disruptions**
Responding to questions about internet disruptions, Tarar claimed these were global issues affecting multiple countries, including the US. He emphasized that any government-installed firewall would be for data and cyber security, not to stifle freedom of expression. He noted ongoing issues on social media platforms, such as harassment and child pornography, as reasons for the interim government's ban on Twitter (now X).
**Firing Incident at Bannu Aman March**
Tarar also addressed the recent firing incident at the Bannu Aman (peace) March, accusing armed individuals from political parties, including PTI, of causing chaos. The incident resulted in one death and several injuries. He accused PTI of being sympathetic to the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and attempting to create unrest in the country. Tarar rejected any involvement of the armed forces in the incident and dismissed the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government's statement on the matter.
