Contempt of court case: Former Pak PM Khan apologises

Pakistan's former prime minister Imran Khan has apologised for criticising a magistrate, his lawyer said yesterday, likely averting a court case that could have seen him barred from standing for election. Khan, an international cricket star turned politician, was ousted through a no-confidence vote in April but has been plotting his return, harrying the fragile new coalition government with vastly popular protests calling for early elections. He became embroiled in a contempt of court case after criticising a magistrate over the detention of a close aide, and yesterday risked being indicted. But on appearing in court Khan apologised and the case is now "most likely to be dropped", his lawyer Faisal Chaudhry told AFP.