The Pakistani Anti-Terrorism Court has issued warrants for the arrest of the two top leaders of anti-Sharif protests, key opposition politician Imran Khan and important cleric Tahir-ul Qadri.
The two are being charged because protesters who supported them stormed the Pakistani state television station back in September and “damaged furniture” at the site. The damage of state-owned property during a public protest is considered a terrorism-related offence.
Neither Khan nor Qadri was reported at the television station during the protest, and their charges are simply on the basis of making speeches against the Sharif government, which officials argue riled the protesters up.
Qadri, who has been living off and on in exile in Canada, has already left the country. Imran Khan has ruled out leaving, and says he won’t apply for bail to avoid arrest. He promised an even bigger rally on November 30.