Pakistan’s government says it will ban ex-Prime Minister Imran Khan’s party, deepening turmoil

ISLAMABAD (AP) — Pakistan’s government plans to ban the party of imprisoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan on charges of illegally receiving funds from abroad and involvement in nationwide riots following his arrest last year, the information minister said Monday.

The decision is likely to significantly deepen the country’s political turmoil, which began after Khan’s 2022 ouster in a no-confidence vote in parliament. Khan, the main rival of current Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, remains a popular figure despite his convictions in a series of cases that he says are politically motivated.

Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said the government has “credible evidence” against Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party. The government has long accused the party of receiving money from people and groups overseas. Under Pakistani law, political parties are not allowed to accept such donations.

Tarar said the government can ban the party under Pakistan’s Constitution, but that the decision would be referred to the Supreme Court for its approval.

Khan’s party accused the coalition government headed by Sharif of panicking following a series of court rulings that threw out many of the cases against the former prime minister.

Monday’s announcement came two days after a court overturned convictions and seven-year sentences given to Khan and his wife. His supporters expected after the ruling that they would be released after almost one year in prison, but government authorities immediately arrested him again on charges related to last year’s riots.

The acquittal of Khan and his wife Bibi was related to the legality of their 2018 marriage. She was previously married to a man who claimed that they divorced in November 2017, less than three