The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has set a date to hear a contentious petition demanding the suspension of the X account belonging to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan, escalating the legal challenges surrounding the former prime minister’s online presence during his incarceration.

According to the cause list issued by the IHC Registrar’s Office, Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir will preside over the case on November 4. The high court has directed Imran Khan to submit a written response and has also served notices to the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA), the Superintendent of Adyala Jail, and other relevant parties to file their replies.

The legal challenge was initiated by a citizen, Ghulam Murtaza, through his counsel, Barrister Zafarullah. The plea argues that posts from the PTI founder’s social media profile are ‘illegal and malicious,’ and it calls on the court to order the removal of the content and the permanent blocking of his account. The request further seeks to halt the spread of what it describes as ‘inflammatory’ material allegedly being published from the account while he is in jail.

In a parallel development, the federal government has confirmed its engagement with the social media platform. Minister of State for Law Barrister Aqeel Malik stated that the government is in communication with X and that an official inquiry into the account’s activity is already in progress. He noted that any subsequent actions would be determined by the investigation’s findings, underscoring a commitment to the legal process.

Meanwhile, the NCCIA is intensifying its own probe, having decided to interrogate the former prime minister once more regarding his account’s activity. The agency has reportedly given a 21-point questionnaire to the PTI chief. Officials indicated that the interrogation would proceed based on his written answers, adding that the NCCIA’s team has already met Khan twice in prison and has accused him of not cooperating with the investigators.