Former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan marked his 73rd birthday on October 5, 2025, not with his family or supporters, but in the confines of Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi. For the second consecutive year, Khan spent his birthday behind bars, following his conviction over the illegal sale of state gifts. Yet, the day was anything but quiet—both inside the prison and across Pakistan, where his presence continues to stir emotions and controversy.
Khan, founder of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party and once a cricketing hero, has now become a symbol of political struggle for many of his supporters. Despite his imprisonment, his digital voice remains loud and clear. His X (formerly Twitter) account is still active, regularly posting content critical of state institutions and the current government. This ongoing activity has not gone unnoticed by authorities.
On Sunday, Federal State Minister for Law, Barrister Aqeel Malik, confirmed that the Pakistani government had contacted X management to request the removal of Khan’s account. The reason? Allegations that Khan’s posts are “anti-state,” with a particular focus on “anti-army tweets.” According to Malik, authorities are also investigating who is actually operating the account, promising to uncover the network behind it. “We have contacted the X (management) seeking blocking of Imran Khan’s account for anti-state, especially anti-army tweets,” Malik stated, as reported by PTI and other local outlets.
The case has grown more complicated as officials dig deeper. Last month, Khan was interrogated by the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA, formerly the FIA cybercrime wing) over posts on X that criticized Army Chief Gen Asim Munir and other state institutions. Khan, however, refused to cooperate fully, declining to reveal who manages his social media presence and insisting he would only answer questions in the presence of his legal counsel. In a recent post, Khan highlighted that he was questioned for expressing his views on Afghanistan, foreign policy, the so-called “Asim Law,” comparisons between Gen Munir and historical military figures, and the psychological torture he claims to have endured in jail.
This digital tug-of-war has only intensified the debate over freedom of speech and the role of social media in Pakistan’s turbulent political landscape. Defence Minister Khawaja Asif even went so far as to suggest that India might be influencing Khan’s X narrative—a claim promptly dismissed by PTI senior leader Moonis Elahi, who called it “a desperate attempt to silence dissent and an insult to the intelligence of the Pakistani people.” Elahi added birthday wishes to “the nation’s great and most beloved leader,” stating, “Your sacrifices are a debt upon the nation.”
While Khan’s digital presence faces scrutiny, his supporters have taken to the streets (and social media) to show their solidarity. On his birthday, PTI organized rallies outside Khan’s Zaman Park residence in Lahore. Although police were deployed to prevent any marches toward the house, the gatherings remained peaceful. Senior PTI leaders—Salman Akram Raja, Shaukat Basra, and Rehaba Dar—attended the main cake-cutting ceremony in Lahore, underscoring the party’s determination to keep Khan’s spirit alive in the public eye.
The sense of loss and resilience was palpable among Khan’s family as well. His son, Kasim Khan, posted a poignant message 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.” The message struck a chord with many supporters, fueling further calls for his release and a return to what they describe as a fair democratic process.
PTI’s birthday celebrations for Khan were not limited to Lahore. The party reported rallies and gatherings in other cities across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh, Gilgit Baltistan, and Kashmir. In each location, the message was the same: PTI would continue its struggle against what it calls “oppressors” and would not rest until Khan is freed from jail. “We will continue our struggle against the oppressors and for the release of our leader from jail,” the party vowed in a statement shared with local media.
Khan’s legal troubles are far from over. He has been in jail for over two years, facing multiple cases. The most high-profile conviction relates to the illegal sale of state gifts, but there are several other charges pending. Despite these setbacks, Khan’s supporters remain fiercely loyal, viewing him as a victim of political vendetta rather than a criminal. For many, the government’s efforts to block his X account are just the latest in a series of attempts to silence dissent and stifle opposition voices.
The broader implications of this digital standoff are hard to ignore. Pakistan’s authorities have increasingly scrutinized social media for content deemed “anti-state,” raising concerns about freedom of expression and the right to political dissent. The government’s recent actions against Khan’s X account are seen by critics as part of a larger pattern of digital censorship. According to BBC reporting on similar crackdowns, such moves have often sparked fierce debate about the boundaries of national security and the rights of citizens to criticize their leaders.
Amid all this, PTI’s grassroots mobilization continues. The party’s ability to rally supporters, even with its leader behind bars, speaks volumes about Khan’s enduring influence. Whether in person or online, his message resonates with a significant segment of the population. As the political climate in Pakistan remains tense, the fate of Khan’s X account—and his broader struggle for political relevance—will likely remain a flashpoint in the country’s ongoing debate over democracy, free speech, and the limits of state power.
For now, Imran Khan’s 73rd birthday stands as a stark reminder of the challenges facing both Pakistan’s opposition and its government. In the words of his son, “Yet his courage endures.” And as supporters across the nation continue to gather—whether in city streets or in digital spaces—it’s clear that the struggle over Khan’s legacy is far from over.