Imran Khan barred from Karachi

The former cricketer and leader of a political party in Pakistan, Imran Khan, was prevented yesterday from entering Karachi. Khan was forced by authorities at Karachi airport to board a flight back to Islamabad.

About 17 of Khan’s supporters, who were at the airport to receive him, were immediately arrested and reports say abused. 300 of his party workers were also detained.

Khan had planned to hold a protest in Karachi against the government in light of the visit by the US Deputy Secretary of State, John Negroponte.

At a press conference, Khan confirmed that he would take up the matter with the highest authorities. He believes his rights to visit any part of the country were violated and that the Supreme Court had clearly ruled that government security was not allowed to prevent any political players from travel.

Khan’s ban from Karachi comes only days after the former PM, Nawaz Sharif, was deported after returning to Pakistan from exile, following the coup in 1999 which saw the current leader Pervez Musharraf rise to fame.

The majority of Pakistanis see Musharraf as a ‘puppet’ to the White House.