Page 6 - aruba-today-20220823

A6 WORLD NEWS
Tuesday 23 augusT 2022
Police file terrorism charges against Pakistan’s Imran Khan

By MUNIR AHMED against you. All of you must convicted in the past for in- viding evidence that the mer cricket star’s popularity
Associated Press be ashamed.” sulting judges. Pakistani military took part still could draw millions out
ISLAMABAD (AP) — Paki- Khan could face several The Pakistani judiciary also in a U.S. plot to oust him. to the street. That could fur-
stani police have filed ter- years in prison from the new has a history of politiciza- Washington, the Pakistani ther pressure the nuclear-
rorism charges against charges, which accuse him tion and taking sides in military and Sharif’s gov- armed nation as it struggles
former Prime Minister Im- of threatening police of- power struggles between ernment have all denied to secure a $7 billion bailout
ran Khan, authorities said from the International Mon-
Monday, escalating politi- etary Fund amid an eco-
cal tensions in the country nomic crisis, exacerbated
as the ousted premier holds by rising global food prices
mass rallies seeking to re- due in part by Russia’s war
turn to office. on Ukraine.
The charges followed a On Sunday, the internet-ac-
speech Khan gave in Islam- cess advocacy group Net-
abad on Saturday in which Blocks said internet services
he vowed to sue police of- in the country blocked ac-
ficers and a female judge cess to YouTube after Khan
and alleged that a close broadcast the speech on
aide had been tortured af- the platform despite a ban
ter his arrest. issued by the Pakistan Elec-
Khan himself has not pub- tronic Media Regulatory
licly spoken about the latest Authority.
charges against him. How- Police arrested Khan’s polit-
ever, a court in Islamabad ical aide, Shahbaz Gill, ear-
issued a so-called “protec- lier this month after he ap-
tive bail” for Khan for the peared on the private tele-
next three days, prevent- vision channel ARY TV and
ing police from arresting urged soldiers and officers
him over the charges, said to refuse to obey “illegal or-
Shah Mahmood Qureshi, a ders” from the military lead-
senior leader in his Tehreek- ership. Gill was charged
e-Insaf opposition party. with treason, which carries
Hundreds of Tehreek-e-In- Former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan waves to his supporters during an anti government the death penalty under
saf members stood outside rally, in Lahore, Pakistan, April 21, 2022. Pakistan’s sedition act that
Khan’s home on Monday Associated Press stems from a British colonial-
in a show of support as the era law. ARY also remains
former premier held meet- ficers and the judge under the military, the civilian the allegation. Meanwhile, off-air in Pakistan following
ings inside. The party has Pakistan’s 1997 anti-ter- government and opposi- Khan has been carrying that broadcast.
warned that it will hold na- rorism law, which granted tion politicians, according out a series of mass rallies Khan has alleged that po-
tionwide rallies if Khan is ar- police wider powers amid to the Washington-based trying to pressure the gov- lice abused Gill while in
rested while working to try sectarian violence in the advocacy group Freedom ernment. custody. Police say Gill suf-
to squash the charges in country. House. Current Prime Minis- In his latest speech Sunday fers from asthma and has
court. However, 25 years later, ter Shahbaz Sharif likely will night at a rally in the city not been abused while de-
“We will take over Islam- critics say the law helps discuss the charges against of Rawalpindi outside of tained.
abad and my message to security forces skirt con- Khan at a Cabinet meeting Islamabad, Khan said so- Gill was discharged from a
police is ... don’t be part of stitutional protections for scheduled for Tuesday. called “neutrals” were be- hospital to attend a court
this political war anymore,” defendants while govern- Khan came to power in hind the recent crackdown hearing Monday. He ap-
warned Ali Amin Khan Gan- ments also used it for politi- 2018, promising to break against his party. peared healthy in televi-
dapur, a former minister un- cal purposes. Other former the pattern of family rule He has in the past used the sion footage as he left for
der Khan. Pakistani politicians, includ- in Pakistan. His opponents phrase “neutrals” for the the court amid tight secu-
Under Pakistan’s legal sys- ing former Prime Minister contend he was elected military. rity. The court then ordered
tem, police file what is Nawaz Sharif and former with help from the power- “A plan has been made to that he be returned to po-
known as a first informa- President Gen. Pervez ful military, which has ruled place our party against the lice custody for two days
tion report about charges Musharraf, also have been the country for half of its 75- wall. I assure you, that the of interrogations, Informa-
against an accused person targeted in probes using year history. Sri Lankan situation is go- tion Minister Maryam Au-
to a magistrate judge, who the law. In seeking Khan’s ouster ing to happen here,” Khan rangzeb said. He likely will
allows the investigation to Khan has not been de- earlier this year, the op- threatened, referencing appear again in court on
move forward. Typically, tained on other lesser position had accused him the recent economic pro- Thursday.
police then arrest and charges levied against him of economic mismanage- tests that toppled that is- Khan’s speech Saturday in
question the accused. in his recent campaigning ment as inflation soars and land nation’s government. Islamabad focused primar-
The report against Khan against the government. the Pakistani rupee plum- “Now we are following law ily on Gill’s arrest.q
includes testimony from Also on Monday, a court in mets in value. The parlia- and constitution.
Magistrate Judge Ali Ja- Islamabad ruled that con- ment’s no-confidence vote But when a political party
ved, who described be- tempt proceedings would in April that ousted Khan strays from that path, the
ing at the Islamabad rally begin Tuesday against capped months of politi- situation inside Pakistan,
on Saturday and hearing Khan for threatening a cal turmoil and a constitu- who will stop the public?
Khan criticize the inspector- judge, according to court tional crisis that required There are 220 million peo-
general of Pakistan’s police officials. the Supreme Court to step ple.”
and another judge. Khan Usually, Pakistani courts in. Meanwhile, it appeared Khan’s party has been
went on to reportedly say: pardon people if they the military similarly had holding mass protests, but
“You also get ready for it, apologize, although some cooled to Khan. Pakistan’s government and
we will also take action politicians have also been Khan alleged without pro- security forces fear the for- facebook.com/arubatoday/