Former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan charged with blasphemy

Former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan has been charged with blasphemy, which could lead to up to 10 years in prison or the death penalty, Dawn reports.

The case was brought by the Punjab Provincial Police against Khan himself and 150 others, including several former ministers and key members of his Tehrik-e-Insaf party, at the request of one Muhammad Naim.

According to the complaint, Khan and his supporters were involved in a rally last Thursday against new Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif during his visit to Saudi Arabia. When the new prime minister of Pakistan and members of his delegation arrived at the Al-Masjid-e-Nabawi mosque in Medina, hundreds of people began shouting anti-Sharif slogans. Video footage shows people believed to be pilgrims from Pakistan shouting "thief" and "traitor" and using foul language against Sharif and his delegation. Saudi authorities later said they had arrested five Pakistani nationals allegedly involved in the incident.
In turn, Khan himself and members of his party deny involvement in this incident and say that the accusations are the beginning of an attack on Khan by the new authorities.