Ex-Pak PM Imran Khan, wife temporarily put on ‘no-fly' list amid army stand-off

Pakistani authorities have placed former premier Imran Khan, his wife and dozens of party workers on a no-fly list.

Pakistani authorities have placed former premier Imran Khan, his wife and dozens of party workers on a no-fly list, barring them from leaving the country, the latest crackdown in a stand-off with the government and the powerful military.

Security officers escort Pakistan's former Prime Minister Imran Khan, as he appeared in Islamabad High Court, Islamabad, Pakistan. (REUTERS file)

The government has imposed a temporary ban that can become permanent after an investigation into the nature of cases against them, Rana Sanaullah, interior minister, told reporters on Friday in Islamabad.

The South Asian nation has seen its political turmoil intensify as Khan’s supporters attacked army properties this month after a brief arrest of the leader. The deepening political crisis is unfolding as Pakistan grapples with its worst economic distress in decades with default risks rising amid a stalled loan program with the International Monetary Fund.

The last few weeks have seen a sweeping crackdown by the government on Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek—e-Insaf with several top leaders now in prison and more than two dozen having quit the party. Over 10,000 supporters have been arrested across the nation, according to Khan. Pakistan is also considering to ban his political party.

Pakistan’s military plans to try the protesters in military court with 16 individuals handed over to the army for trials on May 25. The accused can face 3-14 years in jail under the army’s law, said Sanaullah.