Police within the Pakistani capital have filed prices in opposition to former prime minister Imran Khan, 17 of his aides and scores of supporters, accusing them of terrorism and a number of other different offenses after his followers clashed with safety forces in Islamabad the day gone by.
For hours on Saturday, Khan’s followers clashed with police exterior a court docket the place the previous prime minister was to look in a graft case.
Riot police wielded batons and fired tear gasoline whereas Khan’s supporters threw fireplace bombs and hurled rocks on the officers.
Greater than 50 officers had been injured and a police checkpoint, a number of automobiles and bikes had been torched.
Police stated 59 of Khan’s supporters had been arrested through the violence.
Khan by no means truly appeared contained in the court docket to face prices that he had bought state items acquired whereas in workplace and hid belongings.
In addition to Khan, the case filed on Sunday additionally accuses former and present MPs, former ministers, a former Nationwide Meeting Speaker and scores of Khan’s supporters.
The costs embody terrorism, obstructing law enforcement officials in finishing up their duties, assaults on police, wounding officers and threatening their lives.
The developments are the newest involving rising violence surrounding the 70-year-old Khan, who was ousted in a no-confidence vote in parliament final April.
Since then, the previous cricket star turned politician has claimed – with out providing proof – that his ouster was unlawful and a conspiracy by the federal government of his successor, Shahbaz Sharif, and the USA.
Each Sharif and the US have denied the allegations.
Additionally on Saturday, violence erupted once more exterior Khan’s dwelling within the japanese metropolis of Lahore, the place officers and Khan’s supporters had clashed for 2 straight days in a stand-off earlier final week, after police arrived within the upscale neighborhood to arrest Khan.
Amid tear gasoline and clashes, police stormed Khan’s residence and later stated they arrested 61 suspects and seized petrol bombs, weapons and ammunition.
Khan was not at dwelling, having traveled to Islamabad for the court docket look.
After he failed to look in court docket, the choose postponed that listening to till March 30.
In a recorded video message broadcast on Sunday, Khan blamed the police for his failure to look in court docket on Saturday, saying he by no means left his car because the police had been lobbing tear gasoline at his convoy and supporters.
Khan stated his opponents are bent on both placing him in jail or killing him, and denounced the raid on his dwelling in Lahore as “shameful ways, conspiracies and plans”.
Inside Minister Rana Sanaullah accused Khan of “creating all of the drama simply to keep away from” the courts.
