Pakistan government bans Imran Khan rally, threatens to arrest him as it cracks down on supporters
Pakistan's government has banned ousted prime minister Imran Khan from holding a massive, planned rally in Islamabad and cracked down on his supporters in raids across the country, arresting hundreds.
Key points:
Mr Khan was ousted as prime minister by a no-confidence vote in parliament in April
He's been accused of seeking to create a civil war-like situation with a massive rally in the capital
The decision to ban the rally was taken after Mr Khan's party failed to assure the government that the rally would be peaceful
The ban on Tuesday came hours after a policeman was killed during one of the raids, when a supporter of the former leader opened fire after officers entered his home in Lahore.
Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah warned Mr Khan that he would "not be allowed to disrupt peace in Islamabad" and would be arrested if needed, should the rally go ahead.
Mr Sanaullah earlier in the day accused Mr Khan of seeking to create a civil war-like situation.
The former cricket star turned Islamist politician, Mr Khan served as prime minister for more than three years until he was ousted by a no-confidence vote in parliament, in April.
Mr Khan has remained defiant, demanding early elections and claiming his removal was the result of a US-organised plot in collusion with his successor, Pakistan's now Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif.
Earlier this week, Mr Khan urged supporters to converge on Islamabad on Wednesday for a massive rally to pressure Mr Sharif's government. The demonstration, he said, would continue until a date for snap elections was announced.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-05-25/pakistan-government-raids-khan-supporters-threats/101096686