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Pakistani government ramps up pressure on former prime minister on Tuesday Imran Khan He has been holding mass rallies seeking to return to office, and an Islamabad court is preparing to file a contempt case over his verbal threats to a judge at a weekend rally.
Meanwhile, police raided the apartment of Khan’s close aide, Shah Bazgir, in the Pakistani capital overnight and took him away in handcuffs for questioning.
The development comes two days after authorities brought terrorism charges against Khan, as political tensions in the country escalated.
Speaking at a rally on Saturday, Khan vowed to prosecute police officers and female judge Zebha Choudhury, claiming that Gill was tortured following his arrest earlier this month.
Khan, who came to power in 2018 and was ousted in a vote of no confidence in parliament in April, could be disqualified from politics for life if convicted of insulting Chowdhury.
Terrorism charges against him could result in prison terms ranging from months to 14 years, the equivalent of a life sentence.
Gill was charged with treason for his recent anti-military rhetoric on an ARY private television show in which he urged soldiers and officers to disobey military leaders’ “illegal” orders.
Treason charges against Jill based on sedition Acts derived from British colonial-era law.
After the broadcast, ARY TV remained off the air in Pakistan. Since he was ousted, Khan has claimed without evidence that Pakistan’s powerful military was involved in a US plot to overthrow him.
Washington, the Pakistani military and the government of Khan’s successor, Shahbaz Sharif, have all denied the allegation.
Khan’s latest troubles began at Saturday’s rally, when he criticized Chaudhry, saying: “You too, be prepared and we will take action against you. You should all be ashamed.”
Sharif’s government was unhappy with Khan’s threats, and while courts typically pardon criminals when they apologize, some politicians have been convicted in the past for disobeying or insulting judges.
It was not immediately clear whether Khan would appear at Tuesday’s court hearing or send his lawyers.
Ahsan Bhoon, head of the Pakistan Supreme Court Bar Association, welcomed the lawsuit against Khan, saying no one should be allowed to insult judges or damage the reputation of the judiciary.
Khan came to power promising to break Pakistan’s model of family rule.
His opponents contend he was elected with help from the powerful military, which has ruled the country for half of its 75-year history.
Since stepping down, Khan has also called for early elections and vowed to overthrow Sharif’s government through “people’s pressure”.
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