Former Prime Minister Imran Khan and dozens of his associates have been indicted by a Pakistani court on charges of inciting people to attack military and government installations. Khan pleaded not guilty in court and will face trial under anti-terrorism laws that could result in life imprisonment. The charges stem from violence that erupted last year after Khan’s arrest on corruption charges, with demonstrators attacking military headquarters and other government buildings. Khan, who was ousted in a no-confidence vote in 2022, has been embroiled in numerous criminal cases that his party says are politically motivated.
Following the recent violence in Islamabad, Khan announced plans for a rally and demands for talks with military leaders and a judicial commission to investigate the incidents. If these demands are not met, Khan threatened to launch civil disobedience actions, starting with reducing remittances from Pakistanis abroad. Last week, Khan’s supporters clashed with police in the capital, with his wife leading a protest for his release before fleeing and going into hiding.
In other news, security forces conducted raids in South Waziristan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, killing eight militants. The government, Pakistani military, and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif have all denied Khan’s allegations of involvement in his removal from office. The upcoming trial for Khan and his associates highlights the ongoing political turmoil in Pakistan.
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