Pak PM backs harassment probe against Imran Khan

Pakistan's new prime minister yesterday backed a parliamentary investigation into allegations of sexual harassment leveled by a female lawmaker against firebrand opposition leader Imran Khan, in a scandal that has gripped the conservative country.

The scandal erupted after Ayesha Gulalai, a National Assembly member from conservative Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, accused Khan and other leaders of his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party of sending obscene text messages and promoting a culture of sexism.

The accusations come days after Pakistan's top court disqualified Khan's long-time political nemesis Nawaz Sharif from the premiership on corruption charges, spurring public celebrations from the cricketer-turned-politician and his supporters.

Newly-elected Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, seen as a Sharif loyalist, yesterday backed moves to form a parliamentary committee to investigate the matter after a group of legislators raised the allegations in the house.

"This is an issue concerning the house's integrity -- I will suggest forming a closed-door, special committee to probe the allegations and present its findings in the house," Abbasi told parliament.

In a televised press conference earlier this week Gulalai accused Khan of harassing female leaders in the PTI and resigned from the party.

Gulalai has not released any of the alleged text messages, prompting many in Pakistan to believe the case may be politically motivated.

Khan batted down the allegations, accusing Sharif's ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) of using money to defame political rivals.

"I was astonished to hear that. I suspect that the (PML-N) has used her against me," Khan told broadcaster ARY.