Imran Khan barred from entering Lahore

Ahead of his party's planned rally in Sindh, authorities in the southern Pakistani province have issued fresh orders barring entry of cricketer-turned- politician Imran Khan, who has been prevented from travelling to the region for almost two years now.

Ahead of his party's planned rally in Sindh, authorities in the southern Pakistani province have issued fresh orders barring entry of cricketer-turned- politician Imran Khan, who has been prevented from travelling to the region for almost two years now.

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Khan had announced plans to lead a rally under the banner of his Tehrik-e-Insaaf party in the port city of Karachi today, but the Sindh government barred him from entering the province for a month on the grounds that his presence could create law and order problems.

The travel ban on the former flamboyant cricketer was first imposed on May 9, 2007 in the wake of ethnic violence in Karachi, a stronghold of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), which is an ally in the coalition governments in Sindh and at the centre.

Khan, however, told reporters that he would flout the ban and reach Sindh. He criticised the PPP-led government in Sindh for giving in to pressure from the MQM. "The MQM is a terrorist organisation and it should be banned forthwith," he said.