Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar has said meetings with prisoners, including the PTI founder, are regulated by the jail manual, which prohibits detainees from discussing politics or making their conversations public.
He was speaking at a news conference in Islamabad this evening, alongside Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar in Islamabad this evening.
The Law Minister emphasized that the PTI founder is a convicted prisoner and prison rules allow him only one meeting per week, with no more than six people and write letters.
Further quoting the Jail Manual, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar said political matters are not permitted during meetings with prisoners. He added that there must be no criticism of the jail administration or commentary regarding other inmates, stressing that such discussions will remain a private affair.
He explained that a prisoner is allowed to write only one letter to his family, and its contents cannot be made public. He emphasized that conversations with prisoners cannot be disclosed through press releases, television channels, or social media posts.
The Law Minister noted that Rule 548 of the Jail Manual prohibits meetings with prisoners without the supervision of the Jail Superintendent. He further said that Rule 557 empowers the supervising officer to terminate a meeting if the conduct or conversation is deemed prejudicial to public order and peace.
Responding to a question, the Law Minister said the very demand of Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to meet the PTI founder for discussing and finalizing provincial cabinet is illegal. Speaking on the occasion, the Information Minister said PTI founder is the most privileged prisoner of Pakistan while a misleading propaganda mill is being run constantly regarding his health and life only to defame the government.
The Minister said the kind of meetings that have been held with the PTI founder clearly violate the jail rules.
He added that no such meetings can be allowed under the jail rules that provoke and incite people against the state and state institutions.
The Minister said that the State of Pakistan has decided, once and for all, to establish its writ, and if any any law and order situation emerges outside the jail, it will be dealt with an iron hand.
He said no other political party has ever blocked roads, created a law and order situation, or spoken against any state institution, let alone given interviews or provided feeds to Indian and Afghan media outlets. He said national interest cannot be compromised for whim and caprice of an individual.
