For hours on Saturday, Khan’s followers clashed with police outdoors a courtroom the place the previous prime minister was to seem in a graft case. Riot police wielded batons and fired tear gasoline whereas Khan’s supporters threw hearth bombs and hurled rocks on the officers.
Greater than 50 officers have been injured and a police checkpoint, a number of automobiles and bikes have been torched. Police mentioned 59 of Khan’s supporters have been arrested throughout the violence.
Khan by no means really appeared contained in the courtroom to face fees that he had bought state presents obtained whereas in workplace and hid belongings.
In addition to Khan, the case filed Sunday additionally accuses former and present lawmakers, former ministers, a former Nationwide Meeting speaker and scores of Khan’s supporters. The costs embody terrorism, obstructing law enforcement officials in finishing up their duties, assaults on police, wounding officers and threatening their lives.
The developments are the newest involving rising violence surrounding the 70-year-old Khan, who was ousted in a no-confidence vote in Parliament final April. Since then, the previous cricket star turned Islamist politician has claimed – with out providing proof – that his ouster was unlawful and a conspiracy by the federal government of his successor, Shahbaz Sharif, and Washington. Each Sharif and the USA have denied the allegations.
Additionally on Saturday, violence erupted once more outdoors Khan’s dwelling within the japanese metropolis of Lahore, the place officers and Khan’s supporters had clashed for 2 straight days in a standoff earlier final week, after police arrived within the upscale neighborhood to arrest Khan. Amid tear gasoline and clashes, police stormed Khan’s residence, and later mentioned they arrested 61 suspects and seized petrol bombs, weapons and ammunition. Khan was not at dwelling, having traveled to Islamabad for the courtroom look. After he failed to seem in courtroom, the decide postponed that listening to till March 30.
In a recorded video message broadcast Sunday, Khan blamed police for his failure to seem in courtroom on Saturday, saying he by no means left his car because the police have been lobbing tear gasoline at his convoy and supporters.
With out providing something to again his declare, Khan mentioned his opponents are bent on both placing him in jail or killing him, and denounced the raid on his dwelling in Lahore as “shameful techniques, conspiracies and plans.”
Inside Minister Rana Sanaullah accused Khan of “creating all of the drama simply to keep away from” the courts.
