Pakistani authorities have accused prominent pro-Taleban Islamic leader Maulana Fazlur Rehman of treason.
An announcement said the head of the Jamiat-e-Ulema Islam (J-U-I) party was charged with instigating people against the government and the armed forces.
Mr. Rehman's party has been leading protest rallies against Pakistan's support for the U-S anti-terrorism campaign in Afghanistan. Party officials say the government's move will not deter their anti-U-S protests.
Official charges were filed late Tuesday with local authorities at Mr. Rehman's hometown (Dera Ismail Khan in central Punjab province), where he has been under house arrest for more than a week.
His brother and another cleric have also been named in, what is known as, the First Information Report - the basis for any further legal action.
However, police said there has been no order to formally arrest any of the men.
The move follows a stern warning from Pakistani President Pervez Mushrraf that violence and Islamic extremism will not be tolerated.