Pakistan court extends ex-PM Khan's bail on terror charges

Imran Khan

Ousted former Prime Minister Imran Khan has secured a fourth pre-arrest bail in his case, which is based on terrorism charges.

A Pakistani court has extended former Prime Minister Imran Khan's pre-arrest bail for eight more days on terrorism charges relating to a speech in which he allegedly threatened police and judicial officers, his lawyer said.

Khan, who appeared in court in person on Monday, was booked in the case by police in August. This is the fourth time he has secured pre-arrest bail in the matter.

"Bail is extended till 20th September with the same sureties," Khan's lawyer, Babar Awan, said.

Khan has denied he threatened the officials, saying his words were taken out of context.

"This amounts to making a mockery of the anti-terrorism law; making a mockery of our country," he told journalists outside the court on Monday after he secured his bail.

The terrorism case is one of a spate of legal woes for Khan, who was ousted as prime minister by a parliamentary vote in April.

Call for early elections

The court said last week it would indict Khan in a contempt of court case in the coming days in a matter that poses a threat to his future as it could see him disqualified from politics for at least five years.

Khan has been holding political gatherings across the country to pressure the government into holding snap elections.

Officially, general elections are not due until November next year.

The government says the polls will take place on time and has rejected Khan's call for early elections.

SOURCE: TRT World