The terrorism charges come after a speech by Khan in Islamabad on Saturday in which he vowed to sue police officers and a female judge and claimed a close aide had been tortured after his arrest. Khan himself appeared to be still at large and had not immediately addressed the police charge sheet filed against him. Khan’s political party — Tehreek-e-Insaf, now in opposition — released online videos showing supporters surrounding his home to possibly prevent police from reaching it. Hundreds remained there early Monday. Tehreek-e-Insaf has warned that it will hold national rallies if Khan is arrested. “We are going to take over Islamabad and my message to the police is … don’t take part in this political war anymore,” warned Ali Amin Khan Gadapour, a former minister under Khan. Under Pakistan’s legal system, police submit what is known as a first information report about charges against an accused person to a judge, who allows the investigation to proceed. Usually, the police arrest and question the accused. The petition against Khan includes testimony from Judge Ali Javed, who described being at the rally in Islamabad on Saturday and hearing Khan criticize Pakistan’s inspector general of police and another judge. Khan went on to say, “Get ready for this too, we will also take action against you. You should all be ashamed.” Supporters of opposition parties greet lawmakers as they leave the National Assembly in Islamabad following a no-confidence vote in April that ousted Khan. (Anjum Naveed/The Associated Press) Khan could face years in prison on the new charges, which accuse him of threatening police officers and the judge. However, he has not been taken into custody on other lesser charges brought against him in his recent campaign against the government.
He promised to break the pattern of family rule
Pakistan’s judiciary also has a history of politicization and taking sides in power struggles between the military, the civilian government and opposition politicians, according to the Washington-based advocacy group Freedom House. Khan came to power in 2018, promising to break the pattern of family rule in Pakistan. His opponents argue that he was elected with the help of the powerful military, which has ruled the country for half of its 75-year history. Seeking Khan’s ouster earlier this year, the opposition had accused him of economic mismanagement as inflation soared and the Pakistani rupee plummeted. A parliamentary no-confidence vote in April that ousted Khan capped months of political unrest and a constitutional crisis that required the Supreme Court to intervene. WATCHES | Pakistan’s Imran Khan voted out of office after no-confidence vote:
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan was removed after a vote of no confidence
The cricket star-turned-politician was kicked out of parliament after a no-confidence vote secured by opposition parties. Khan claimed, without providing evidence, that the Pakistani military was involved in a US plot to oust him. Washington, the Pakistani military and the government of Khan’s successor, Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif, have denied it. Meanwhile, Khan is holding a series of mass rallies in an attempt to pressure Sharif’s government.
Khan’s aide is accused of treason
In his final speech on Sunday night at a rally in the city of Rawalpindi outside Islamabad, Khan said so-called “neutrals” were behind the recent crackdown on his party. In the past he has used the phrase “neutrals” for the military. On Sunday, Internet access advocacy group NetBlocks said Internet services in the country blocked access to YouTube after Khan broadcast a live speech on the platform despite a ban issued by the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority. Police arrested Khan’s political aide Shahbaz Gill earlier this month after he appeared on private television channel ARY TV and urged soldiers and officers to refuse to obey “illegal orders” from the military leadership. Gill was charged with treason, which under Pakistani law carries the death penalty. ARY also remains off air in Pakistan after this telecast. Khan has alleged that the police abused Gill while in custody. Police say Gill suffers from asthma and has not been abused while in custody. Khan’s speech on Saturday in Islamabad focused mainly on Gill’s arrest. Gill was released from the hospital to attend a hearing on Monday. He appeared healthy in television footage as he left for court amid tight security. The court then ordered that he be returned to the police for two days of questioning, said Information Minister Maryam Aurangzeb. He is likely to appear in court again on Thursday. Meanwhile, police separately arrested journalist Jameel Farooqi in Karachi over his allegations that Gill had been tortured by the police. Farooqui is a staunch supporter of Khan.
