ISLAMABAD: A Pakistan high court on Monday quashed terrorism charges against former Prime Minister Imran Khan, his defence lawyers said, a relief for the former cricket star who has faced a spate of legal woes since being ousted from office.
The court said Khan's alleged offence didn't attract terrorism charges, Faisal Chaudhry, one of his lawyers told Reuters.
The charges are related to a speech by Khan in which he allegedly threatened police and judicial officers after one of his close aides was denied bail in a sedition case.
"The case against Imran Khan, however, will remain intact, that will now be tried in an ordinary court, instead an anti-terrorism court," Chaudhry said.
"This is actually an order to quash the charges," another of his lawyers, Babar Awan, told Reuters, adding, "It only proves that these are trumped up charges, and just a tool for political victimisation."
Islamabad police brought the charges against Khan in August after his public remarks that he would not spare the police and a judicial officer who had denied bail to his aide.
Khan subsequently explained that his remarks were not meant to be a threat.
The former premier has faced several cases since his ousting in April in a vote of confidence won by opposition parties in an effort led by his successor, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
One of the cases is at a crucial stage in the high court, which is slated to indict Khan on Sept 22 in a contempt of court case for threatening the judicial officer. If convicted, he could face disqualification from politics for at least five years.
Another case involves foreign funding for his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party that an election tribunal found unlawful.
Khan, who rode to power in a 2018 election allegedly on the back of support from Pakistan's military, had fallen out of favour with the powerful generals. Both the military and Khan deny he came to power with the military's support.
Since his ousting he has held nationwide rallies to demand snap polls, but the ruling coalition has refused it, saying the election will be held as scheduled by the end of 2023.
Reuters
Tue Sep 20 2022
![Pakistan court quashes terrorism charges against former PM Imran Khan Pakistan court quashes terrorism charges against former PM Imran Khan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2022-09/81663653254_ImranKhan.jpg)
Islamabad police brought the charges against Khan in August after his public remarks that he would not spare the police and a judicial officer who had denied bail to his aide. - REUTERS/Filepic
10 Berita Pilihan - (16 Julai 2024
Antara pelbagai berita dalam dan luar negara yang disiarkan di Astro AWANI, berikut adalah yang paling menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari ini.
PAC beri tempoh tiga bulan kepada HRD Corp
Jawatankuasa Kira-kira Wang Negara (PAC) memberi tempoh tiga bulan kepada Perbadanan Pembangunan Sumber Manusia (HRD Corp) untuk mengemukakan laporan tindakan susulan terhadap syor jawatankuasa itu.
Kylian Mbappe tandatangan kontrak dengan Real Madrid
Bintang bola sepak Perancis Kylian Mbappe menandatangani kontrak selama lima tahun dengan kelab Sepanyol Real Madrid pada Selasa.
Pelepasan ketujuh air sisa nuklear Fukushima ke laut selesai
Jepun telah menyelesaikan pusingan ketujuh pelepasan air sisa radioaktif yang dirawat dari loji kuasa nuklear Fukushima Daiichi ke Lautan Pasifik pada Selasa.
Empat termasuk kapten maut dalam pertempuran
Empat anggota tentera India termasuk kapten meninggal dunia akibat kecederaan selepas pertempuuran pada malam isnin di Hutan Desa.
Pakistan sahkan 4 warganya terbunuh di Oman
Pakistan berkata pada Selasa empat warganya terbunuh dalam insiden tembakan pada malam Isnin berhampiran ibu negara Oman, Muscat.
Lima terbunuh, puluhan cedera dalam protes antikuota di Bangladesh
Sekurang-kurangnya empat orang terbunuh dan puluhan lagi cedera dalam pertempuran antara pelajar yang memprotes sistem kuota dalam pekerjaan sektor awam dan polis di pelbagai bahagian Bangladesh pada Selasa.
Kerajaan cadang perkenal pembiayaan swasta
Kerajaan menyasarkan untuk memperkenalkan pembiayaan swasta alternatif bagi memastikan kemampanan kewangan program sektor air, sekali gus mengurangkan kebergantungan pada perbelanjaan kerajaan dan mengukuhkan daya tahan.
Saya tak fitnah Guan Eng, cuma jelaskan siasatan SPRM - Muhyiddin
Presiden Bersatu Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin memberitahu Mahkamah Tinggi Kuala Lumpur hari ini bahawa beliau tidak memfitnah Lim Guan Eng berhubung isu pengecualian cukai terhadap Yayasan Albukhary
KPT alu-alukan dapatan, cadangan PAC - Zambry
Ini termasuklah cadangan pelaksanaan Garis Panduan Pelaburan dan Pembiayaan oleh Universiti Awam 2024 kepada anak-anak syarikat di bawah seliaan Kementerian Pendidikan Tinggi (KPT).
![Kerajaan Pakistan akan haramkan parti bekas PM Imran Khan yang dipenjara Kerajaan Pakistan akan haramkan parti bekas PM Imran Khan yang dipenjara](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/71721080159_ImranKhan.jpg)
Kerajaan Pakistan akan haramkan parti bekas PM Imran Khan yang dipenjara
Menteri Penerangan Attaullah Tarar berkata kerajaan akan memfailkan permohonan di Mahkamah Agung selepas mendapat kelulusan Kabinet.
![Dakwaan salah guna kuasa, bekas PM Pakistan Imran Khan direman - Laporan Dakwaan salah guna kuasa, bekas PM Pakistan Imran Khan direman - Laporan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/51721037466_ImranKhan.jpg)
Dakwaan salah guna kuasa, bekas PM Pakistan Imran Khan direman - Laporan
Sebuah mahkamah di Pakistan pada Isnin mengarahkan bekas Perdana Menteri Imran Khan dan isterinya Bushra Bibi direman sehingga 22 Julai untuk membantu siasatan kes penyalahgunaan kuasa.
![Calon bebas disokong PTI dominasi Pilihan Raya Pakistan Calon bebas disokong PTI dominasi Pilihan Raya Pakistan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-01/71705230671_ImranKhan.jpg)
Calon bebas disokong PTI dominasi Pilihan Raya Pakistan
Calon bebas yang mendapat sokongan parti bekas perdana menteri Imran Khan dilaporkan mendominasi PRU Pakistan selepas SPR mengumumkan keputusan rasmi pada Ahad.
![Pimpinan parti Imran Khan rancang bentuk kerajaan Pimpinan parti Imran Khan rancang bentuk kerajaan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-02/61707604058_tbGoharAliKhan.jpg)
Pimpinan parti Imran Khan rancang bentuk kerajaan
Calon- calon pimpinan parti pemimpin pembangkang Pakistan yang dipenjarakan, Imran Khan, merancang untuk membentuk kerajaan pada Sabtu.
![Penyokong parti Jamaat-e-Islami protes bantah keputusan lewat di Karachi Penyokong parti Jamaat-e-Islami protes bantah keputusan lewat di Karachi](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-02/71707608741_tbelectionPakistan.jpg)
Penyokong parti Jamaat-e-Islami protes bantah keputusan lewat di Karachi
Ratusan penyokong parti politik agama terbesar Pakistan, Jamaat-e-Islami, melakukan demonstrasi di luar pejabat Suruhanjaya Pilihan Raya di Karachi membantah kelewatan keputusan pilihan raya.
![Bekas Presiden Pakistan Imran Khan guna AI dakwa kemenangan dalam pilihan raya Bekas Presiden Pakistan Imran Khan guna AI dakwa kemenangan dalam pilihan raya](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-01/71705230671_ImranKhan.jpg)
Bekas Presiden Pakistan Imran Khan guna AI dakwa kemenangan dalam pilihan raya
Imran yang kini menjalani hukuman penjara, menggunakan kecerdasan buatan (AI) untuk mengisytiharkan kemenangan dalam pilihan raya umum negara itu pada Jumaat.
![Penduduk Lahore rai kemenangan dua pemimpin Penduduk Lahore rai kemenangan dua pemimpin](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-02/81707541020_TBPakistanElections.jpg)
Penduduk Lahore rai kemenangan dua pemimpin
Dua bekas Perdana Menteri Pakistan dan pesaingnya Nawaz Sharif dan Imran Khan mengisytiharkan kemenangan dalam pilihan raya meskipun dicemari penangguhan keputusan dan serangan militan pada Jumaat.
![Dua penyokong parti maut dalam pertempuran pilihan raya Pakistan Dua penyokong parti maut dalam pertempuran pilihan raya Pakistan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-02/51707530764_Pakistan.jpg)
Dua penyokong parti maut dalam pertempuran pilihan raya Pakistan
Bantahan tercetus di tengah-tengah kelewatan pengundian dan dakwaan penipuan undi dalam Pilihan Raya Umum Pakistan.
![Pilihan raya Pakistan: Imran Khan tunai tanggungjawab, pengundi 'banjiri' pusat pengundian Pilihan raya Pakistan: Imran Khan tunai tanggungjawab, pengundi 'banjiri' pusat pengundian](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-06/71686182493_ImranKhan.jpg)
Pilihan raya Pakistan: Imran Khan tunai tanggungjawab, pengundi 'banjiri' pusat pengundian
Bekas perdana menteri Pakistan yang dipenjarakan, Imran Khan menunaikan tanggungjawab mengundi secara pos pada Khamis.
![28 maut dalam dua letupan menjelang pilihan raya Pakistan 28 maut dalam dua letupan menjelang pilihan raya Pakistan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-02/81707342553_TBPakistan.jpg)
28 maut dalam dua letupan menjelang pilihan raya Pakistan
Letupan pertama ragut 16 nyawa di Pishin, manakala letupan kedua di Qila Saifullah pula menyebabkan 12 orang maut.