Srinagar ~ Former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan marked his 73rd birthday in Adiala Jail, Rawalpindi, spending his second consecutive birthday behind bars following his conviction over the illegal sale of state gifts. Despite imprisonment, Khan's presence on social media remains influential, with his X (formerly Twitter) account actively posting content critical of state institutions.

The Pakistani government has stepped up efforts to block Khan's X account for allegedly sharing“anti-state” material. Federal State Minister for Law, Barrister Aqeel Malik, confirmed that authorities have contacted X management to remove Khan's account, citing anti-army and anti-state tweets. Officials are also investigating who operates the account, promising to uncover the network behind it.

Khan, founder of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), was interrogated last month by the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA, formerly FIA cybercrime wing) over posts criticizing Army Chief Gen Asim Munir and other state institutions. Khan refused to cooperate, declining to reveal who manages the account, and stated he would only respond in the presence of his legal counsel.

In a recent post on X, Khan highlighted that he was questioned for expressing views on topics such as Afghanistan, foreign policy, the“Asim Law,” comparisons between Gen Munir and historical military figures, and the psychological torture he has endured in jail.

The controversy has drawn political criticism. Defence Minister Khawaja Asif suggested that India may be influencing Khan's X narrative, a claim PTI senior leader Moonis Elahi called a“desperate attempt to silence dissent and an insult to the intelligence of the Pakistani people.”

Meanwhile, PTI celebrated Khan's birthday with rallies outside his Zaman Park residence in Lahore. Police were deployed to prevent marches toward the home, but supporters gathered peacefully. The main cake-cutting ceremony in Lahore included senior PTI leaders Salman Akram Raja, Shaukat Basra, and Rehaba Dar. Khan's son, Kasim Khan, posted on X:“On his 73rd birthday, our father remains locked in a death cell-790 days without his family, without his doctors, without his lawyers. Yet his courage endures. We must not give up, because he never will.”

This episode underscores growing tensions between Pakistan's digital authorities and political dissenters, as the state increasingly scrutinizes social media for content deemed“anti-state.”

Elahi, while offering birthday wishes to“the nation's great and most beloved leader,” said,“Your sacrifices are a debt upon the nation.”

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