Pakistan's police filed terrorism charges against Imran Khan on Monday as the former prime minister held mass rallies seeking a return to office.
The charges followed a speech Mr Khan gave in Islamabad on Saturday, in which he vowed to sue police officers and a female judge, and claimed a close aide was tortured after his arrest, AP reported.
Mr Khan did not immediately address the charges against him.
Mr Khan also accused the government of temporarily blocking YouTube to stop people watching live footage of his speech at a political rally, Reuters reported.
He has made speeches to gatherings across the South Asian nation as he pushes for new elections after being ousted from power in April through a parliamentary vote.
The YouTube blocking accusation followed a ban on Saturday by the electronic media regulator on the live broadcast of Mr Khan's speeches, referring to what it called his "hate speech" against state institutions.
Pakistan’s opposition Tehreek-e-Insaf party, Mr Khan’s political party, had published videos online showing supporters surrounding his home to potentially stop police from reaching it.
Hundreds remained there early on Monday, AP reported.
Under Pakistan’s legal system, police file what is known as a first information report, detailing the charges against an accused, to a magistrate judge who allows the investigation to move forward.
Typically, police then arrest and question the accused.
The report against Mr Khan includes a testimony from Magistrate Judge Ali Javed, who described being at the Islamabad rally and hearing Mr Khan criticise the inspector general of Pakistan’s police and another judge.
“You also get ready for it, we will also take action against you. All of you must be ashamed," Mr Khan said.
Mr Khan could face several years in prison because of the new charges. He is accused of threatening police officers and the judge.
But he has not been detained on other lesser charges levied against him in his recent campaigning against the government.
In a statement, the PTI said the latest accusations against Mr Khan were "frivolous".
"We have serious reservations on this politically motivated move which leads towards further instability in the country," it said.
Meanwhile, the hundreds of supporters, gathered outside Mr Khan's hilltop mansion in the capital, vowed to prevent his arrest on anti-terrorism accusations, Reuters cited officials of his political party as saying.
They chanted slogans against the government of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, which took over after Mr Khan's ouster.
"If Imran Khan is arrested ... we will take over Islamabad with people's power," a former minister in his cabinet, Ali Amin Gandapur, threatened on Twitter, as some party leaders urged supporters to prepare for mass mobilisation.
Another former ministerial colleague, Murad Saeed, told local television channels that the police had issued orders for Mr Khan's arrest.
Mr Khan's aide, Fawad Chaudhry, told reporters outside an Islamabad court that the party had applied for bail for the leader ahead of any arrest.
The use of anti-terrorism laws as the basis of cases against political leaders is not uncommon in Pakistan, where Mr Khan's government also used them against opponents and critics.
The opposition leaders warned Monday that authorities would cross a "red line" if they arrested Mr Khan, AFP reported.
"Wherever you are, reach Bani Gala today and show solidarity with Imran Khan," tweeted former information minister Fawad Chaudhry, referring to Khan's home. "Imran Khan is our red line."
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
Key findings of Jenkins report
- Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
- Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
- Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
- Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
Avatar: Fire and Ash
Director: James Cameron
Starring: Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana
Rating: 4.5/5
UAE v Ireland
1st ODI, UAE win by 6 wickets
2nd ODI, January 12
3rd ODI, January 14
4th ODI, January 16
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Tonight's Chat on The National
Tonight's Chat is a series of online conversations on The National. The series features a diverse range of celebrities, politicians and business leaders from around the Arab world.
Tonight’s Chat host Ricardo Karam is a renowned author and broadcaster who has previously interviewed Bill Gates, Carlos Ghosn, Andre Agassi and the late Zaha Hadid, among others.
Intellectually curious and thought-provoking, Tonight’s Chat moves the conversation forward.
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Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Top 10 in the F1 drivers' standings
1. Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari 202 points
2. Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes-GP 188
3. Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes-GP 169
4. Daniel Ricciardo, Red Bull Racing 117
5. Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari 116
6. Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing 67
7. Sergio Perez, Force India 56
8. Esteban Ocon, Force India 45
9. Carlos Sainz Jr, Toro Rosso 35
10. Nico Hulkenberg, Renault 26
Classification of skills
A worker is categorised as skilled by the MOHRE based on nine levels given in the International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO) issued by the International Labour Organisation.
A skilled worker would be someone at a professional level (levels 1 – 5) which includes managers, professionals, technicians and associate professionals, clerical support workers, and service and sales workers.
The worker must also have an attested educational certificate higher than secondary or an equivalent certification, and earn a monthly salary of at least Dh4,000.
