High court ‘orders terrorism charges against Khan be dropped’

A PAKISTAN high court on Monday (20) ordered removal of terrorism charges against former prime minister Imran Khan, his defence lawyer said.

The court said Khan’s alleged offence didn’t attract terrorism

charges, Faisal Chaudhry, the lawyer told Reuters. The charges are related to a speech by Khan in which he allegedly threatened police and judicial officers.

Last week a court granted bail to Khan’s close aide, Shahbaz Gill, who was arrested in August over comments about the nation’s all-powerful army, which acts as a political kingmaker.

Gill said on television that junior officers should not follow orders that violate “the will of the majority”, but he was detained soon after on charges of sedition “tantamount to inciting the rank and file of armed forces towards revolt”.

Gill’s lawyer Salman Safdar said the Islamabad high court granted him bail last Thursday (15) morning, with a bond of 500,000 rupees (£1,754) $2,000).

Khan was charged under the anti-terrorism act, and with contempt of court, after criticising the magistrate who signed off on Gill’s detention – claiming she kept him in custody despite knowing he was being tortured by police.

The case against Khan could see him barred from high office if it results in a conviction.

Khan is set to be indicted on contempt charges at the Islamabad high court on September 22, and was bailed until Tuesday (20) on separate charges by the Anti-Terrorism Court.