Pakistan

Pakistan Court Grants Interim Bail to Former PM

AUG 22 2022·Updated AUG 25 2022

Story

Image credit: AFP/Getty Images [via The New York Times]

The Facts

On Thurs., a Pakistan court granted interim bail to former PM Imran Khan in what was his first court appearance since being charged on Sun. under the country's antiterrorism act for allegedly threatening officials and a judge over the arrest of his chief of staff, Shahbaz Gill, in a speech.
nytimes
His bail bond - granted until Sept. 1 - was set at 100K rupees, or roughly $450. He was also awarded bail until Sept. 7 over a charge of unlawful assembly for 5k rupees, around $22. His next hearing is set for Wednesday.
Al Jazeera
Khan, 70, was removed from power in April when he lost a no-confidence motion. In his attempt to return to office, he has repeatedly accused the US and Pakistani military of being part of a foreign conspiracy to unseat him.
Al Jazeera
The charge came as the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority imposed a television ban on Khan's future live speeches, only allowing pre-recorded speeches to maintain editorial control.
VOA
Many fear that his supporters will take to the streets should he be arrested and, if the government clamps down hard on the protests, it could plunge the country into more violence and public unrest.
nytimes
Both Washington and Pakistan's succeeding PM, Shehbaz Sharif, have denied Khan's allegations of a conspiracy. If convicted, he could face several years in prison.
Al Jazeera

Sources Split

LEFT

CENTER

RIGHT

ESTAB
CRIT

CENTER

PRO
ESTAB

The Spin

Narrative A

Khan - who has repeatedly spread dangerous conspiracy theories - finally has to face the law. Through his seditious words, he's responsible for instigating extremism, and the government cannot sit idle while he continues to incite rebellion and harm the country.

UPI

Narrative B

The so-called "threat" and "spreading of hate" for which Khan is being charged is the threat to sue officials and the police. Khan has clearly improved in popularity after he was removed from office in April, and the charges against him risk pushing an already divided country into chaos.