Pakistani police file terrorism charges against ex-PM Khan

Pakistani law enforcement have pressed terrorism charges against former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who has been accused of facilitating militant activities.

The charges, which allege that Sharif “abetted and aided terrorist activities,” were filed with the Anti-Terrorism Court in Islamabad on Tuesday.

The filing of the charges comes as Sharif is receiving treatment for heart problems in London. His supporters have decried the move as politically motivated, and Sharif’s Pakistan Muslim League party has called it “a travesty of justice.”

The charges stem from a 2018 inquiry into allegations that Sharif was involved in a conspiracy to stoke unrest in Pakistan. The inquiry found that Sharif’s government had allowed a banned militant group, Lashkar-e-Taiba, to operate freely in the country.

The inquiry also concluded that Sharif had provided financial and logistical support for the group’s activities. The group is accused of perpetrating a number of deadly attacks in India and Pakistan, including the 2001 attack on India’s Parliament.

The inquiry found that Sharif had authorized several government officials to provide support to the group, including a former Finance Minister who was accused of helping to facilitate the 2001 attack.

The terrorism charges filed against Sharif are the latest development in a long-running saga of political and legal turmoil that has engulfed the former Prime Minister since his ouster in 2017.

If convicted, Sharif could face a lengthy prison sentence. The prosecution’s case is expected to be presented in court later this month.