Imaran khan

ISLAMABAD, June 8 (Reuters) - Pakistan's ousted former prime minister Imran Khan secured bail on Thursday from the Islamabad High Court over new murder charges, meaning he cannot be rearrested in connection with those charges for the next 14 days, his lawyer said. Khan was arrested on May 9 and held for three days, triggering violent protests by his followers. He is now free on bail in a range of criminal cases. He had travelled to the capital from his Lahore home to seek bail in the murder case and extend his bail in over a dozen other cases to avoid a fresh arrest, said his lawyer Gohar Khan. Another of his lawyers, Naeem Haider, said he also received bail in all the other cases in which he had applied for it. The 70-year-old former cricket hero who become prime minister in 2018 has been embroiled in a confrontation with Pakistan's powerful military since he was ousted in a no-confidence vote last year. The military has ruled directly or overseen civilian governments since the creation of Pakistan, where political confrontations are often fought out in court. Khan's Since Khan was freed, new charges against him have been piling up. On Wednesday, police named him in connection with the murder of a lawyer seeking sedition proceedings against him. Khan says he is facing nearly 150 cases and denies guilt in all of them. His lawyer Gohar Khan had said the former prime minister would on Thursday approach the anti-terrorism courts, anti-graft courts and the High Court in Islama...

Rioting and attacks by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) activists on army installations on May 9 so enraged the country’s powerful military that it seems that the party has been all but wiped out in the ensuing crackdown. PTI workers went on a rampage on May 9 following the arrest of party leader and former prime minister Imran Khan. Those involved in the violence have either been arrested or have become silent, fearing action. It is clear to the PTI’s top leaders and supporters that the military is not in the For several months, Khan refused to appear before the courts in connection with different cases as he believed that due to his massive support base, the courts would not dare to act against him. He provoked the military leadership, warning them of severe consequences if he was arrested or his party was sidelined. His high-risk political maneuvering backfired in such a way that he is now cooped up in his Lahore residence and attends court hearings every day. Diplomat Brief Weekly Newsletter N Get briefed on the story of the week, and developing stories to watch across the Asia-Pacific. Get the Newsletter Post-May 9, Khan continues to create problems for himself. He has refused to accept that his months-long campaign inciting his supporters against the military may have led to the violent rioting in May. Even after the May 9 violence, the PTI chief did not stop the party’s social media campaigns against the military leadership and even went as far as accusing the law enf...

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party activists and supporters of former Prime Minister Imran Khan block a road during a protest against the arrest of their leader in Hyderabad, Pakistan, on Tuesday. Akram Shahid/AFP via Getty Images ISLAMABAD — Pakistan's paramilitary forces arrested former Prime Minister Imran Khan inside a courthouse in the capital Islamabad on Tuesday. The move has escalated political tensions at a time of economic distress in the country. Khan's arrest triggered rare pushback against the military, the country's most powerful institution. According to videos shared by Khan's media team, the former prime minister's supporters — mostly men, but also some women — appeared to overrun a gate leading into the compound of Pakistan's military headquarters in the city of Rawalpindi. Shouting "Allah Akbar," or God is great, they are seen in the videos using sticks to smash through the first gate that separates the compound from the road beyond. Supporters of Pakistan's former Prime Minister Imran Khan block an entry gate of the Pakistani army's headquarters during a protest against the arrest of their leader, in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, Tuesday. Khan was arrested as he appeared in court to face charges in multiple graft cases, a dramatic escalation of political tensions that sparked violent demonstrations in major cities. Khurram Butt/AP hide caption toggle caption Khurram Butt/AP Supporters of Pakistan's former Prime Minister Imran Khan block an entry gate of the Pakista...