Terrorism charges filed against former Pakistan PM Imran Khan over Islamabad speech

The charges relate to a speech he gave on Saturday in which he vowed to sue police and a female judge and alleged that a close aide had been tortured

Khan could face several years in prison from the charges. However, he has not been detained on other charges levied against him in recent campaigning

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Imran Khan, Pakistan’s former prime minister and leader of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party, speaks during an anti-government protest rally in Islamabad on Saturday. Photo: AFP

Published: 1:14pm, 22 Aug 2022Updated: 2:12pm, 22 Aug 2022

Pakistani police have filed terrorism charges against former Prime Minister Imran Khan, authorities said on Monday, escalating political tensions in the country as he holds mass rallies seeking to return to office.

The terrorism charges come over a speech Khan gave in Islamabad on Saturday in which he vowed to sue police officers and a female judge and alleged that a close aide had been tortured after his arrest.

Khan himself appeared to still be free and had not immediately addressed the police charges being lodged against him. Pakistan’s opposition Tehreek-e-Insaf party, Khan’s political party, published online videos showing supporters surrounding his home to potentially stop police from reaching it.

Supporters of opposition party Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf listen to Khan’s speech in Islamabad on Saturday. Photo: EPA-EFE

Hundreds remained there early on Monday. Tehreek-e-Insaf warned that it will hold nationwide rallies if Khan is arrested.

Under Pakistan’s legal system, police file what it known as a first information report about the charges against an accused to a magistrate judge, who allows the investigation to move forward. Typically, police then arrest and question the accused.

The report against Khan includes testimony from Magistrate Judge Ali Javed, who described being at the Islamabad rally and hearing Khan criticise the inspector-general of Pakistan’s police and another judge. Khan went on to reportedly say: “You also get ready for it, we will also take action against you. All of you must be ashamed.”

Khan could face several years in prison from the new charges, which accuse him of threatening police officers and the judge. However, he’s not been detained on other lesser charges levied against him in his recent campaigning against the government.