Latest news with #Khan
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
2 hours ago
- Politics
- First Post
‘Filthy water, not allowed to meet children': Imran Khan under ‘harshest prison term in Pakistan's history'
In a message from the jail, former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan has said that he is undergoing the 'harshest prison term' in the country's history and the water that he gets for ablution is filthy and unfit for human use. read more A supporter of jailed former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan holds his poster during a gathering by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party to observe Martyrs' Day to honour those who allegedly died during last month's protest, in Peshawar on December 15, 2024. (Photo: Abdul Majeed/AFP) Pakistan's incarcerated former prime minister Imran Khan on Thursday said he is undergoing the 'harshest prison term' in the country's history. Khan, 72, has been lodged at the Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi since August 2023 in multiple cases. 'I am enduring the harshest prison term in the country's history solely for the supremacy of the Constitution and in service of my nation,' he was quoted as saying in a post uploaded on his verified X handle. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'The level of oppression and authoritarianism is such that even the water I have for ablution is filthy and contaminated with dirt, unfit for any human being,' Khan alleged. The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder alleged the books sent to him by his family have been withheld for months and access to television and newspapers has also been suspended. 'I have spent countless hours re-reading the same old books, but now even those are no longer available,' he said. Khan asserted that no political leader in Pakistan's history has faced the kind of treatment he is currently experiencing. He contrasted this with former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, who, despite being involved in several corruption cases, 'was granted every possible comfort' during his imprisonment. Khan emphasised that his wife, Bushra Bibi, who is 'innocent' and not involved in politics, is being subjected to 'inhumane conditions' in prison. The 72-year-old cricketer-turned-politician further alleged that all his basic human rights have been violated. Even the minimum facilities accorded to ordinary prisoners under the law and the jail manual are denied to him. 'Despite repeated requests, I have not been allowed to speak to my children. Political meetings have also been restricted; I am only permitted to meet certain 'choice individuals', while all other interactions are barred,' he said. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Khan appealed to his party members to set aside all internal differences and focus solely on the movement planned for August 5. The PTI is all set to launch the 'Free Imran Khan Movement' from August 5 across the country. Khan's sons –Suleman and Kasim — are currently in the US, meeting with the Trump administration and Congressmen as part of efforts to release Khan who has been in jail for the last two years in multiple cases. 'I am waging a battle against a 78-year-old system, and my greatest success is that despite unprecedented oppression, the public stands firmly with me,' Khan said. He said on February 8, 2024, the people expressed their trust in PTI by voting for it even in the absence of an electoral symbol. 'After such a clear mandate, it is the moral and political responsibility of every party member to become the voice of the people. It will be nothing short of disgraceful and condemnable if PTI leaders waste time on internal conflicts at this critical juncture. Anyone found engaging in factionalism within the party will be expelled,' he said. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Khan said the Shehbaz Sharif-led government has crippled the judiciary and 'the way biased judges are now delivering blatantly unjust verdicts' is visible to the entire nation. 'We must launch a robust campaign to liberate the judiciary, for no nation can survive, let alone progress, without judicial independence,' he said. (This is an agency copy. Except for the headline, the copy has not been edited by Firstpost staff.)
The Print
2 hours ago
- Business
- The Print
Bangladesh Bank revokes new dress code amid controversy
The HR department of the Bangladesh Bank had also warned that failing to comply with the order could lead to disciplinary action. Dhaka, Jul 24 (PTI) Bangladesh's central bank on Thursday revoked a new dress code directive, three days after its human resources department created a controversy by asking employees – especially females – to dress in 'modest and professional' attire. According to the official, Bangladesh Bank governor Ahsan H Mansur, currently on a tour abroad, ordered the directive to be withdrawn immediately as the issue came to his knowledge through media reports. Khan also said the previous decision was taken in the respective departmental meetings to advise all levels of officials and employees working at Bangladesh Bank to wear professional and elegant clothes during office hours considering social norms. But, he maintained, no policy decision was taken or no circular was issued in this regard. Khan acknowledged the decision virtually angered the governor and was revoked as per his instructions. Under the now revoked order male staff were directed to wear formal shirts with long or half sleeves, along with formal trousers and shoes while wearing jeans or gabardine trousers was disallowed. The directive asked all women to wear saree, salwar-kameez with orna, or any other plain, modest, professional-coloured outfit along with simple headscarves or hijab and formal sandals or shoes. The central bank order had debarred the women from wearing short-sleeved or length dresses and leggings. 'Officials and employees of all levels must dress modestly and professionally, in line with the country's social norms,' the directive read. Following the ouster of prime minister Sheikh Hasina in August last year, Islamist parties have increased their influence in Bangladesh. PTI AR NPK ZH NPK NPK This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
Business Recorder
5 hours ago
- Politics
- Business Recorder
Aleema says IK has ordered launch of nationwide movement
RAWALPINDI: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founding chairman Imran Khan has instructed the party leadership to launch a full-scale nationwide movement against the government, his sister Aleema Khan said on Thursday. Speaking to reporters outside Adiala Jail, Aleema Khan revealed that Imran Khan has directed PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, Secretary General Salman Akram Raja, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur to mobilise an effective campaign across the country. Addressing questions about the arrival of Khan's sons-Kasim Khan and Sulaiman Isa Khan-to Pakistan, Aleema said 'the former prime minister considers it their right to speak out in support of him.' Regarding the ongoing Toshakhana case, Aleema Khan condemned the treatment of Imran Khan inside Adiala Jail and the restrictions imposed during the court hearings. She stated that the legal team and family were only informed about the hearing hours before it began, and only two lawyers were allowed entry. Family members, other lawyers, and media personnel were barred from attending the session, she added. 'We waited outside the jail for four and a half hours,' Aleema told reporters, adding that Khan has been confined to a cell for 22 hours daily without access to newspapers, books, or television, and has only recently been provided with a single book. 'He has instructed his lawyers to inform the public about the inhumane conditions he is enduring in prison,' she said. Earlier, the special court, hearing the Toshakhana II case against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founding chairman Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, completed recording statements of nine prosecution witnesses. Special Judge Central Shahrukh Arjumand, while hearing the case at Adiala Jail, adjourned the case till July 26 after the defence completed the cross-examination of another prosecution witness Shafqat Mehmood. Khan's counsel Qausain Faisal Mufti also conducted a partial cross-examination over another witness Mohsin Hassan. Jail authorities produce Khan and his wife before the court. Prosecutor Zulfiqar Abbas Naqvi and Umair Majeed appeared before the court. The court adjourned hearing till July 26. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
5 hours ago
- Politics
- Business Recorder
IK alleges inhumane treatment at Adiala Jail
ISLAMABAD: Former prime minister Imran Khan on Thursday alleged that he is being subjected to inhumane conditions during his imprisonment at Adiala Jail, calling it the 'harshest prison term in the country's history,' and urged his party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), to unite ahead of a planned protest on August 5. In a message shared through his legal team on X, Khan said, 'Never in the history of Pakistan has any political leader been subjected to the treatment that I am currently enduring.' Khan, who has been in custody since his conviction in multiple cases, claimed that he is being denied basic rights, including access to clean water, books, newspapers, television, and contact with his children. He also said that his wife, Bushra Bibi, is being held under 'inhumane conditions.' The former premier, ousted in a no-confidence vote in April 2022 and later arrested following a series of legal challenges, compared his situation to that of rival Nawaz Sharif, alleging preferential treatment for the former prime minister despite corruption convictions. Khan said he has been allowed only limited political meetings, restricted to 'certain choice individuals,' and warned party members against infighting. 'Every member of the party must immediately set aside all internal differences and focus solely on the movement planned for August 5th,' he said. 'Anyone found engaging in factionalism within the party will be expelled.' He also criticized the current government, formed after the February 8, 2024 controversial general elections, accusing it of manipulating results and undermining judicial independence through the 26th Constitutional Amendment. 'The so-called government formed through Form 47 has crippled the judiciary,' he said. 'We must launch a robust campaign to liberate the judiciary, for no nation can survive, let alone progress, without judicial independence.' Khan maintains that the PTI secured a public mandate in the February 2024 elections, despite its candidates running without the party's electoral symbol, and urged leaders to reflect the will of the people. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
The Hindu
8 hours ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
‘Civil society globally did a fantastic job in supporting Gaza; but governments in West are evil'
After his two-storey house in Gaza was bombed in October 2023, allegedly by Israeli forces, Palestinian human rights lawyer Raji Sourani remains committed to returning to the war-torn strip; one of his first priorities, he says. In an exclusive interview, Mr. Sourani, who founded the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) in 1995, shares the current scenario of his and his organisation's efforts to prosecute Israel for 'genocide' at the International Court of Justice. Mr. Sournai, who is currently in Cairo, Egypt, expressed severe disappointment with Karim Khan, the chief prosecutor at the International Criminal Court (ICC), adding that Mr. Khan had 'failed' the people of Gaza. It is to note that, since 2015, Sourani has led the Palestinian legal team representing victims at the ICC. In a conversation with Al-Jazeera in April 2024, it was mentioned that you and a team of lawyers from the PCHR were working on prosecuting Israel for 'genocide' at the ICJ. Where does this stand in the present-day? The ICJ, as you know, is a court for the states. Since January 2015, we have been trying our best and have invested in making a case move at the ICC. But, there was an incredible amount of political pressure from the U.S., especially from the then Donald Trump-led administration. Penalties were warned on anyone who would try to bring the U.S. or Israel to the ICC, at any political level. This lasted till March 2021, when the ICC chief prosecutor, Fatou Bensouda, decided to open an investigation. However, when Karim Khan took over as the new chief prosecutor of the ICC, he did not move anywhere. If I may interrupt, can you elaborate on why things did not move after Karim Khan took over? We do not know, but he was talking about restructuring the court, and the investigation into Palestine and budget deficits, among others. His priorities were very confusing to us, and he refused to meet us, even in principle, for a long period of time. When the October 7, 2023, attacks took place in Israel, we tried to meet Khan on numerous occasions. He already had the decision made by Fatou Bensouda to go ahead with the investigation. All Khan had to do was to ensure the investigation went ahead, but he did not do that. He continued to refuse a meeting with us, including with his investigative team. That is when we decided to think of the ICJ, and to open the dialogue channels with Ireland and South Africa, and the latter was open to the idea. We were lucky that South Africa…took over the case at the ICJ and challenged Israel while accusing the latter of the most serious crime of genocide. Coming back to Karim Khan, there has been recent news that he was reportedly warned to be 'destroyed', along with the ICC, if the arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant were not withdrawn. As a human rights lawyer, how do you perceive this? Despite the first Trump-led administration deciding that it would sanction anyone who tried to demand accountability [from the U.S. or Israel], Bensouda was incredibly courageous to challenge that. She formed the investigative body and had a meeting with us, and the investigation was simply supposed to proceed. We have documented war crimes dating back to 2014 – including crimes against humanity and persecution. However, after Khan took over, he refused to meet. It is very strange that a prosecutor, and his team, who cannot visit the place [Gaza], had no interest in meeting the lawyers who had documentation of the situation. Meanwhile, the war in Ukraine erupted. Soon after, he opened an office in Kyiv and began the investigation in Ukraine with 37 investigators. But, he did not move with respect to our file. We warned them [Khan and his team] after the October 7th attacks that there is obvious evidence of plans to carry out a genocide in Gaza. Still, they did not want to meet or listen. Only after making the case at the ICJ did Khan ask to meet us, and we were reluctant. I told Khan that he was partly responsible for the blood, pain and suffering of Gaza, after October 7th. Maybe if Khan had held any Israelis accountable, according to the files he had, then they [Israel] would not have thought of doing genocide. He promised to move forward, but only after he went to Israel and met the Israeli victims… Later, he delivered the arrest warrants against Netanyahu and Gallant, but is that enough? These warrants are related to starvation and food, and not to genocide. Do you feel that Karim has failed you [and the people of Gaza]? Definitely. By waiting two years after taking over [to initiate action], he failed us… I do not want more than what he did for Ukraine. In one year, he had a warrant against Putin. I am damn sure that if Israel had been informed that they could be held accountable, they would have thought many times before doing what they are doing now… This is the most well-documented conflict in history, this is a genocide that was broadcast and live-streamed, and the world has been watching it? Speaking of war crimes, do you feel that the world and the media has turned its back on Gaza? I think the civil society, globally, did a fantastic job on [supporting] Gaza. I am very proud that the crème-de-la-crème of American universities and the generation of tomorrow stood fair, and they tried their best to voice the voiceless. They were able to speak truth to power. This includes people in London, Tokyo, Delhi and Paris, among others. It is obvious, the solidarity and support for Palestine. Our problem is not with the people…but the government's, in the U.S. and Europe, are evil. How can they support a criminal, belligerent occupation, and call a genocide a right to self-defence? I am appalled, the behaviour is selective. I also noticed that you were no longer based in Gaza, a place that you were not willing to leave at any cost. What made you leave Gaza? I did not leave Gaza willingly, my house was bombed. I have been a lawyer for the last 43 years, and one of my missions is to document these war crimes. I was checking whether the targeting against me was deliberate or not. My colleagues and I concluded that yes, this was deliberate. I was advised by my friends from across the world not to stay a minute longer in Gaza, because they believed that targeting was deliberate. They said that nobody will make use of you if you are dead. On the other hand, my wife and son refused to separate from me and leave for Egypt. At that time, it was 'mission impossible' to leave Gaza. But some friends intervened and got me out of there. For the first time, I feel that I am not in the right place [because I am away from Gaza]. You did mention that you had proper documentation of the alleged war crimes. Can you walk us through the testimonies of the victims, which you have gathered? We have had a real dilemma since the latest war broke out, because we never used to document anything partly. I can assure you that whether it's in 2008, 2009, 2012, 2014, 2017 and more, we have documented every war crime – crimes against humanity, persecution – in full. But, in this war, it was 'mission impossible' to document everything. Firstly, it was extremely dangerous, so I asked everyone in my team to stay home. We decided to do selective documentation, what that means is that we had to be selective in how many places we could cover. But wherever we covered, we did it in full. We documented attacks against shelters, UNRWA schools and hundreds of people have been killed, among many other war crimes. We have major samples on every type of crime that was committed. Do you ever plan to return to Gaza, given that there is an alleged threat to your life? Definitely, that is the first thing on my agenda. I am a deep-rooted Gazan, my family has lived in Gaza for the last seven centuries. I chose to be in Gaza, even when I was offered work in places across the world. I know that Gaza is not the most beautiful place in the world, but that is where I belong and feel my humanity. And there is a cause and case that I am working for. I have a team in Gaza, 45 of them, they continue to document starvation, bombings, killings and displacement. We have lost three of our staff members so far, and many of our staff members have also lost their family members… Not a for second will I comprise on returning to Gaza, no matter what the price will be.
