Imran Khan leaves court in Lahore earlier this month. AP
Imran Khan leaves court in Lahore earlier this month. AP
Imran Khan leaves court in Lahore earlier this month. AP
Imran Khan leaves court in Lahore earlier this month. AP

Imran Khan's political party may be banned, Defence Minister says


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Former Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan's political party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf could be banned, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said on Wednesday.

Mr Khan's arrest earlier this month caused political and social instability across the country after he was accused of corruption. He was later released on bail on court orders.

The Pakistani politician said the charges against him had been concocted. He has been embroiled in a confrontation with the powerful military, which has ruled Pakistan directly or overseen civilian governments throughout its history.

“It is under consideration to ban PTI,” Mr Asif told reporters. “The PTI has attacked very basis of the state – that never happened before. It can't be tolerated.”

Deadly protests broke out across the country following Mr Khan's arrest, with army personnel attacked and state buildings set ablaze.

Last week, Mr Khan said his life might be in danger amid the unrest.

He was toppled from power and survived an assassination attempt last year. in In Islamabad this week, said he expected to be arrested for a second time.

“There’s been one assassination attempt – I was lucky to survive,” he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme on Monday.

“Yes, there is danger to my life. But much more worrying for us is the danger to our democracy right now.”

Following his abrupt arrest after appearing in court on May 9, Mr Khan said he was “abducted by the army”. He added: “I was treated like some terrorist. People around me were beaten up, I was hit by a stick.

“When these images went out there was a reaction … any investigation will reveal there were elements that were planted inside that went out of their way to burn government buildings.”

His supporters torched buildings and vehicles and attacked police and military personnel. The clashes killed dozens and authorities arrested over 4,000 people.

Three ways to limit your social media use

Clinical psychologist, Dr Saliha Afridi at The Lighthouse Arabia suggests three easy things you can do every day to cut back on the time you spend online.

1. Put the social media app in a folder on the second or third screen of your phone so it has to remain a conscious decision to open, rather than something your fingers gravitate towards without consideration.

2. Schedule a time to use social media instead of consistently throughout the day. I recommend setting aside certain times of the day or week when you upload pictures or share information. 

3. Take a mental snapshot rather than a photo on your phone. Instead of sharing it with your social world, try to absorb the moment, connect with your feeling, experience the moment with all five of your senses. You will have a memory of that moment more vividly and for far longer than if you take a picture of it.

Company profile

Name: Steppi

Founders: Joe Franklin and Milos Savic

Launched: February 2020

Size: 10,000 users by the end of July and a goal of 200,000 users by the end of the year

Employees: Five

Based: Jumeirah Lakes Towers, Dubai

Financing stage: Two seed rounds – the first sourced from angel investors and the founders' personal savings

Second round raised Dh720,000 from silent investors in June this year

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Lexus LX700h specs

Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor

Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm

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Transmission: 10-speed auto

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Infiniti QX80 specs

Engine: twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6

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Updated: May 24, 2023, 2:28 PM