Former Pakistan PM charged under ’anti terror’ law

Pakistan's police have charged the country's former Prime Minister, Imran Khan, under anti-terror laws.

Their investigation comes after he accused the police and judiciary of detaining and torturing his close aide

The police case comes a day after the country’s top media regulatory body imposed a ban on Khan’s speeches for “spreading hate speech” against “state institutions and officers”, escalating political tensions in the country as he has been holding mass rallies seeking to return to the office.

In his speech on Saturday, the former prime minister promised to sue police officers and a female judge and alleged that a close aide had been tortured after his arrest.

"You should also get ready as we will take action against you," Mr.Khan said in the speech, referring to the pair directly.

He could face several years in prison for the new charges, which accuse him of threatening Police officers and the judge. 

Under Pakistan’s legal system, the police usually file a first information report (FIR) about the charges against an accused to a magistrate judge, who allows the investigation to proceed. Typically, police then arrest and question the accused.

Aljazeera said that the return of street violence was a strong possibility.

The case comes at a time of heightened tension between Pakistan's government and Mr. Khan, who was ‘expelled’ from power in April in a no-confidence vote.

Khan came to power in 2018, promising to break the pattern of ‘family rule’ in Pakistan.  His opponents contend he was elected with help from the powerful military, which has ruled the country for half of its 75-year history.