Shehbaz Sharif's adviser warns Imran Khan could face treason case
What's the story
The government of Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has warned former PM Imran Khan that he could face treason charges. According to reports in the local media, Rana Sanaullah, an adviser to Sharif and a senator, said on Monday that the possibility of treason cases against Khan "could not be ruled out." He also advised other leaders from the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party to take this warning seriously as ignoring it could lead to "serious consequences."
Security concerns
Khan's anti-army narrative deemed a national security threat
The warning comes after the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry accused Khan of creating an "anti-army" narrative. Chaudhry said this narrative posed a "national security threat." He asked Khan, "Who are you? What message do you want to give? Who do you think you are?" This public confrontation follows the issue over permitting the PTI founder's sisters to meet him in Rawalpindi's Adiala Jail.
Inflammatory remarks
Khan's social media post interpreted as inflammatory
Sanaullah also pointed to a social media post by Khan, which was made after he met his sister in jail, that made the situation "clear." The government interpreted the tone of this post as "inflammatory." He said statements made at PTI rallies would soon reach the concerned quarters, who would respond with full force.
Political unrest
Khan's arrest and ongoing political tensions
Khan has been in Adiala Jail since August 2023 after being arrested in graft cases. In January 2025, he was sentenced to 14 years in the Al-Qadir Trust corruption case and faces charges in the Cipher case for leaking state secrets. His feud with Munir dates back to 2019, when Khan removed him as ISI director after just eight months.