Local authorities announced Monday that the Pakistani police had brought charges against Imran Khan, former prime minister, for violating antiterrorism laws. This comes as a result of Khan’s alleged threats to a police officer and judicial staff.
After he promised to sue both a female judge as well as the police for what he claimed was the torture of Shahbaz Gill while in prison, a police report was filed against him.
Gill himself is facing sedition charges after being arrested on August 9. Khan allegedly made the claims at Saturday’s rally in Islamabad.
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Pakistani police surround Imran’s home
According to media reports Khan seems to be still in freedom. The video was released by Khan’s Tehreek-e -Insaf, an opposition party to the Pakistani government. It shows a crowd of supporters gathered outside of Khan’s home to possibly stop police detaining the politician.
The police report containing the charges against Khan includes the testimony from magistrate judge Ali Javed, who apparently was present at the Islamabad rally and heard Khan’s words firsthand.
“We will take legal action against you if we see that you are not prepared. You all must be ashamed,” the ex-PM reportedly said.
If the prosecution manages to prove Khan’s guilt, he may face several years in prison.
Earlier, PEMRA, the country’s digital media watchdog, prohibited satellite stations from airing Khan’s speech, or any future speeches by the ousted PM, without a time-delay mechanism.
Khan was reelected as prime minister after an unpopular no-confidence vote in April. He claimed in June that the US had threatened his government with “Consequences” unless he was removed from power, saying Washington was unhappy with his opposition to its “Never-ending wars” in Central Asia and the Middle East.
