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Political turmoil in Pakistan as ex PM charged under anti-terror laws

Pakistan's Police have charged the country's former Prime Minister, Imran Khan under anti-terror laws. 

A judgment was not immediately available, but officials from the former prime minister’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party said he had been granted “interim bail” until September 1.

Police announced the charges after the cricketer-turned-politician accused authorities of torturing his close aide, who is himself being detained under sedition charges.

His court appearance is the latest twist in months of political wrangling that began when he was ousted from power in April by a confidence vote in the national assembly. The former cricket star retains widespread support, however, staging mass rallies railing against the government led by the new prime minister, Shehbaz Sharif, and scoring successes in recent provincial assembly by-elections.

Despite his ousting, Imran Khan continues to count on the support of many Pakistani voters. Since then, the former leader has toured the country to deliver a series of fiery speeches calling for fresh elections and fiercely criticising both the government and the army.

Last month, his PTI party stunned rivals by taking control of a crucial provincial assembly in Punjab, defeating the PML-N party in what was expected to be an easy win for them.

Read more at the Guardian 

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