Islamabad Excessive Courtroom summons ex-Pak PM Imran Khan in contempt case on Aug 31 | World News

An Islamabad court docket Tuesday summoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan to seem subsequent week to reply contempt fees over his verbal threats to a decide at a weekend rally. Police in the meantime registered one other case in opposition to him on fees of defying a ban on rallies in Islamabad.

The newest improvement indicated that Pakistan’s authorities is stepping up stress on Khan, who has been holding mass rallies, looking for to return to energy. Individually, police raided in a single day the residence of Khan’s shut aide Shahbaz Gill within the Pakistani capital, and took him away in handcuffs for interrogation.

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A conviction in opposition to Khan, who's to seem earlier than the Islamabad Excessive Courtroom on Aug. 31, would imply disqualification from politics for all times since beneath Pakistani regulation, no convicted individual can run for workplace.

It's the second time that Khan — a former cricket star turned Islamist politician — faces contempt fees. After elections in 1993, he was summoned however pardoned by the Supreme Courtroom after describing the conduct of the judiciary as “shameful" and saying it didn't guarantee free and honest elections.

Fawad Chaudhry, a senior chief from Khan's opposition Tehreek-e-Insaf social gathering, informed The Related Press that Khan's staff would look at the summons however that of their opinion, the Islamabad Excessive Courtroom lacks the authority to strive Khan for contempt of court docket.

Authorized specialists say Khan has restricted choices and will keep away from a conviction if he apologizes for his remarks in opposition to Choose Zeba Chaudhry on Saturday, when he informed her to “prepare for it, we may also take motion in opposition to you.”

Additionally on Tuesday, Islamabad police registered one other case in opposition to Khan and 16 different leaders from his social gathering on fees of defying a ban on disruptive rallies in Islamabad on Saturday.

The newest developments got here two days after authorities filed terrorism fees in opposition to Khan, escalating political tensions within the nation.

In New York, in the meantime, U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric informed reporters that U.N. Secretary-Basic Antonio Guterres was conscious of the terrorism fees in opposition to Khan and that he “urges calm, reducing of tensions and respect for the rule of regulation, human rights and basic freedoms” in Pakistan.

Khan, who got here into energy in 2018 and was ousted in April in a no-confidence vote in Parliament, may face from a number of months to 14 years in jail, the equal of a life sentence, on the terrorism fees.

Gill, Khan's shut aide taken Tuesday for interrogation, has been charged with treason for his current anti-army remarks throughout a present on the personal ARY TV during which he urged troopers and officers to disobey “unlawful" orders from army leaders. The cost carries the dying penalty beneath a sedition act that stems from a British colonial-era regulation. ARY TV stays off-air in Pakistan following that broadcast.

Since his ouster, Khan has alleged — with out offering proof — that Pakistan's highly effective army took half in a U.S. plot to oust him. Washington, the Pakistani army and the federal government of Khan's successor, Shahbaz Sharif, have all denied the allegation.

Sharif's authorities is sad with Khan over his threats and though courts often pardon offenders in the event that they apologize, some politicians have been convicted prior to now for disobeying or insulting judges.

Ahsan Bhoon, a lawyer who heads the Supreme Courtroom Bar Affiliation of Pakistan, welcomed the proceedings in opposition to Khan, saying nobody needs to be allowed to insult a decide or injury the repute of the judiciary.

Khan got here to energy promising to interrupt the sample of household rule in Pakistan. His opponents contend he was elected with assist from the highly effective army, which has dominated the nation for half of its 75-year historical past.

Since his ouster, Khan has additionally demanded early elections and vowed to oust Sharif's authorities via “stress from the folks."