Former Pakistani PM Imran Khan charged with terrorism as he warns of a Sri Lanka-style revolution

Topline

Former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan has been charged with terrorism, police officials in Islamabad said on Monday, threatening to aggravate the already volatile political situation in the country where the former leader has called for a the Sri Lankan government.

Former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan speaks during a press conference in Islamabad.

The Associated Press

Highlights

Khan was accused by police of violating Pakistan’s anti-terror laws in a speech he gave in the capital Islamabad on Saturday, where he allegedly threatened the Inspector General of Islamabad Police and a female judge .

While speaking to his followers, Khan accused police of torturing his close aide Shahbaz Gill after Stop him last week and would have said he “would not be spared” by the police chief and the judge for this.

Tensions soared in Islamabad after news of the charges against the former prime minister emerged, with his Tehreek-e-Insaf party warning that Khan’s arrest would cross a “Red line– prompting a large number of supporters to gather near Khan’s residence.

Khan was offered relief on Monday after the High Court in Islamabad granted him a protective bond, blocking his arrest until at least Thursday, according to the Pakistani daily. Dawn reported.

If the former prime minister is convicted of terrorism, he faces several years in prison, according to the Associated Press reports.

crucial quote

“A plan has been made to place our party against the wall. I assure you that the situation in Sri Lanka is going to happen here,” Khan said in his last speech on Sunday evening.

Peg News

Pakistan’s electronic media regulator has banned the country’s television stations have broadcast Khan’s speeches live since Saturday, alleging they pose a threat to peace and stability in the country. Internet service providers in Pakistan also moved to block YouTube in the country after live streams of Khan’s speeches began appearing on the platform, global internet monitoring organization NetBlocks reported.

Key Context

khan was removed from power in April this year after his party failed to win a dramatic vote of confidence in Pakistan’s parliament. After Khan’s ouster, a coalition of several opposition parties seized power in Pakistan with Shehbaz Sharif – the younger brother of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif – taking over as the new prime minister. Khan has since spoken out publicly against his ouster, which he says is a plot by the Pakistani military as part of a US plot against him. Khan claimed, without evidence, that the United States wanted him removed from power after he refused to allow him to establish military bases in Pakistan following their exit from neighboring Afghanistan. Khan also hinted that Pakistan could resolve its severe economic crisis by import energy of Russia despite American reservations. Khan faced criticism both at home and abroad earlier this year for a poor outlook, with his official visit to Moscow as prime minister coinciding with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Despite this, Khan has kept insisting on building better relations with Russia and even praised Pakistan’s main rival, India, for do the same.

Large number

24.93%. This is the inflation rate in Pakistan reported for the month of July, fueled by high energy and fuel prices.

TCI Free Press

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