Pakistani police have filed terrorism charges against former Prime Minister Imran Khan, authorities said Monday, escalating political tensions in the country as the ousted premier holds mass rallies seeking to return to office.
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The terrorism charges came 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 has not immediately addressed the police charge sheet being lodged against him. Khan's political party − Tehreek-e-Insaf, now in the opposition − published online videos showing supporters surrounding his home to potentially stop police from reaching it.
Hundreds remained there early Monday and police have yet to attempt to detain Khan, said Fawad Chaudhry, who served as information minister in Khan's government. Chaudhry published a picture of Khan in his home Monday, holding a meeting. Tehreek-e-Insaf has warned that it will hold nationwide rallies if Khan is arrested.
Khan's lawyer Bawar Awan meanwhile filed a request to Islamabad's High Court seeking protective bail for Khan, which would protect him from being arrested.
