Pakistani police filed multiple terrorism charges Thursday against imprisoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi after protests demanding his release turned violent, leaving six dead and prompting nearly 1,000 arrests.
The charges, filed under anti-terrorism laws in Islamabad and Rawalpindi, followed days of unrest sparked by Bibi leading thousands from northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province toward the capital. Authorities accuse the couple of inciting attacks on security forces and disrupting peace.
At least six people, including four security personnel, died when a vehicle rammed into them, according to Islamabad police, who blame Khan’s supporters. Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal and Information Minister Attaullah Tarar told international media that protesters “wanted to take over the capital” and were carrying weapons seized during a midnight raid Tuesday that dispersed thousands of demonstrators.
Bibi, a spiritual healer out on bail in a separate graft case, fled during the raid. Khan, imprisoned since August 2023, already faces more than 150 cases that his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party claims are politically motivated.
The political tensions contributed to market uncertainty, with Pakistan’s Stock Exchange losing $1.7 billion Tuesday before rebounding Thursday to surpass 100,000 points for the first time. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif characterized the recovery as evidence of economic improvement.
The turmoil coincides with sectarian violence in the northwestern Kurram district, where eight people died Thursday in new clashes following earlier attacks that killed 42 Shiites and prompted deadly reprisals.
Separately, authorities filed terrorism charges against journalist Matiullah Jan following his reported abduction. Police claim he refused to stop at a checkpoint and grabbed an officer’s weapon, allegations Jan denies.
