Pakistani police have filed terrorism and other charges against former Prime Minister Imran Khan, as well as 17 of his aides and dozens of his supporters.

Sunday’s move comes after supporters of the ousted prime minister And clashed with security forces in the country’s capital, Islamabad a day ago.

Mr. KhanHis followers were confronted with police outside court for several hours on Saturday as the 70-year-old former prime minister was due to face corruption charges.

Molotov cocktails and stones were also thrown at the police during the raid on Mr. Khan’s house.

Police arrest supporters of Mr Khan during a house search on Saturday
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Police are detaining Mr. Khan’s supporters at his home on Saturday

Wielding batons and sticks, officers responded by using tear gas during clashes with supporters of the politician in the eastern city of Lahore on Saturday, and arrested 59 people during the violence.

During the operation, a man on the roof of the sprawling compound opened fire.

At least 50 officers were injured and several cars and motorcycles were torched at a police checkpoint.

People gathered outside Khan's house on Sunday
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People gathered outside Khan’s house on Sunday

Khan did not end up appearing in court to face accusations that he sold government gifts he received while in office and hid his assets. The judge then adjourned the hearing until March 30.

Besides Khan, the police case filed on Sunday also accuses former and current politicians, ex-ministers, a former speaker of the National Assembly and dozens of Khan’s supporters.

The charges include terrorism, assaulting police, obstructing officers from doing their job, injuring officers and endangering their lives.

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Police raid Imran Khan’s house

The developments are the latest to involve an increase in violence surrounding Mr Khan, who was ousted in a vote of no confidence in parliament last April.

The former cricket star turned politician has since claimed, without providing any evidence, that his removal from power was illegal and a conspiracy by the government of his successor, Shahbaz Sharif, and Washington.

Supporters of former Prime Minister Imran Khan run for cover after police fired a tear gas shell to disperse them during clashes, in Islamabad, Pakistan, Saturday March 18, 2023. A Pakistani Supreme Court has suspended an arrest warrant for former Prime Minister Khan, giving him a deferral of travel to Islamabad and a confrontation Charged in a corruption case without arrest.  (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed)
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Supporters of Mr Khan run for cover after police fired tear gas to disperse them
Police arrest a supporter of former Prime Minister Imran Khan during a search at Khan's house, in Lahore, Pakistan, March 18, 2023. Pakistani police raided the home of former Prime Minister Khan in the eastern city of the country.  On Saturday, Lahore arrested 61 people amid tear gas and clashes between Khan's supporters and the police, officials said.  (AP Photo/KM Chaudary)

Both Mr. Sharif and the US denied the allegations.

After the weekend’s clashes, Khan said in a recorded video message on Sunday that the police were to blame for his failure to appear in court, claiming he never left his car while police fired tear gas at his convoy and supporters.

Read more:
Imran Khan: Molotov cocktails were thrown and shots were fired at the Pakistani police
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The arrest of the former Pakistani prime minister has been halted after violence

Clashes in Islamabad meant that Khan was unable to reach the courtroom
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Clashes in Islamabad meant that Khan was unable to reach the courtroom

Mr. Khan also claimed that his opponents were intent on either putting him behind bars or killing him, and condemned the raid on his home in Lahore as “shameful tactics, plots and plans”.

Home Minister Rana Sanalla responded by accusing Mr Khan of “creating all the drama just to avoid” the courts.



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