Former Pakistan PM Charged Under Terrorism Act

Facts

• On Sun., former PM of Pakistan Imran Khan was charged under the country’s antiterrorism act for allegedly threatening officials and a judge over the arrest and alleged torture of his chief of staff, Shahbaz Gill, during a speech on Saturday.
• Khan, 70, was removed from power in April when he lost a no-confidence motion. In his attempt to return to office, he has repeatedly accused the US and Pakistani military of being part of a foreign conspiracy to unseat him.
• The charge came as the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority imposed a television ban on Khan’s future live speeches, only allowing pre-recorded speeches to maintain editorial control.
• Hundreds of Khan’s supporters gathered outside his residence of Bani Gala in Islamabad, chanting, singing, and vowing to “take over” if he was arrested, with his political allies saying his arrest would be crossing a “red line.”
• Many fear that his supporters will take to the streets should he be arrested and, if the government clamps down hard on the protests, it could plunge the country into more violence and public unrest.
• Both Washington and Pakistan’s succeeding PM, Shehbaz Sharif, have denied Khan’s allegations of a conspiracy. If convicted, he could face several years in prison.

Sources: UPI, Al Jazeera, VOA, BBC News, and New York Times.

Narratives

• Narrative A, as provided by UPI. Khan — who has repeatedly spread dangerous conspiracy theories — will finally have to face the law. Through his seditious words, he’s responsible for instigating extremism, and the government cannot sit idle while he continues to incite rebellion and harm the country.
• Narrative B, as provided by TIME. The so-called “threat” and “spreading of hate” for which Khan is being charged is the threat to sue officials and the police. Khan has clearly improved in popularity after he was removed from office in April, and the charges against him risk pushing an already divided country into chaos.