Islamabad police have filed charges of terrorism and other violations of national law against the country’s former prime minister and chairman of the opposition Movement for Justice Party (JZM), Imran Khan, his 17 aides and dozens of supporters. It is reported by TASS with reference to the Associated Press.
The charges came after clashes between law enforcement officials and DZS supporters accompanying Khan’s motorcade in Islamabad the day before. The ex-premier of Pakistan was on his way to the capital’s district court to attend a hearing on the sale of expensive gifts he received while in office from foreign leaders. Over 50 police officers were injured and 59 Khan supporters were arrested.
The list of charges included terrorism, obstructing police officers in their tasks, assaulting law enforcement officers, injuring police officers and endangering their lives. In addition to Khan, several former ministers and the former speaker of the National Assembly (lower house of parliament) of Pakistan are accused of these offenses.
Khan was ousted as head of government of Pakistan on 10 April 2022 after a vote of no confidence was passed against him. Shortly before this, Khan stated that his government was threatened by the United States and local opposition. The former prime minister also repeatedly said that the political process against him was inspired and financed from abroad. On November 3 last year, when Khan was leading a march in the city of Wazirabad (Punjab province) demanding early elections, he was assassinated: he was shot in the leg.
The former prime minister is accused of selling expensive gifts he received from foreign leaders while in power. In October 2022, the Electoral Commission of Pakistan removed Khan from the elections and disqualified him from holding government positions for a period of five years due to incorrect reporting of income as prime minister. The decision was made amid suspicions that Khan embezzled at least 36 million Pakistani rupees ($137.7 thousand) from the sale of gifts.
Source: Rosbalt
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