Imran Khan, the former Pakistani prime minister, has long been convinced that he is the victim of a military-led conspiracy to keep him from power in one of the most dangerous, violent and corrupt countries on earth.
He may be right. The proof, he will no doubt reason, was his latest arrest today at his home in Lahore after he was sentenced to three years in jail for corruption and banned from politics for five years.
Khan’s lawyer, Intezar Hussain Panjutha, announced an appeal. Whether or not this latest case against Khan, in which he was accused of corruptly selling gifts, including watches, from heads of state, will put paid to his political comeback, is uncertain. He remains the most popular politician in Pakistan.
“If
Former Pakistan PM Imran Khan arrested on corruption charges
According to his lawyer, Intezar Panjotha , Khan was arrested at his residence in the eastern city of Lahore on Saturday.
“Police have arrested Imran Khan from his residence,” Mr Panjotha told Reuters. "We are filing a petition against the decision in high court.”
Lahore’s Police Chief Bilal Siddique Kamiana confirmed the arrest and told Reuters the politician was being transferred to the capital, Islamabad.
Khan‘s political party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) said in a statement they had already filed another appeal to the Supreme Court earlier on Saturday.
Read MoreThe conviction came just a day after Pakistan’s high court had temporarily halted the district court trial. It was not immediately clear why the trial had proceeded despite the high court decision.
Khan‘s arrest and detention for several days in May over a separate case had sparked intense political turmoil and deadly clashes had erupted between Khan supporters and police.
The latest arrest comes in the lead up to an election expected to take place in the next three months. Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has proposed that parliament be dissolved on Aug. 9, three days before the end of its term, according to political, paving the way for a general election by November.
Pakistani media and a Reuters witness described police surrounding Khan‘s residence in Lahore on Saturday after verdict was released.
The sentence relates to an inquiry conducted by the election commission, which found Khan guilty of unlawfully selling state gifts during his tenure as prime minister from 2018 to 2022.
Khan has denied any wrongdoing.
The 70-year-old cricketer-turned-politician was accused of misusing his premiership to buy and sell gifts in state possession that were received during visits abroad and worth more than 140 million Pakistani rupees Imran Khan, the former Pakistani prime minister, has long been convinced that he is the victim of a military-led conspiracy to keep him from power in one of the most dangerous, violent and corrupt countries on earth.
He may be right. The proof, he will no doubt reason, was his latest arrest today at his home in Lahore after he was sentenced to three years in jail for corruption and banned from politics for five years.
Khan’s lawyer, Intezar Hussain Panjutha, announced an appeal. Whether or not this latest case against Khan, in which he was accused of corruptly selling gifts, including watches, from heads of state, will put paid to his political comeback, is uncertain. He remains the most popular politician in Pakistan.
“If
Former Pakistan PM Imran Khan arrested on corruption charges
According to his lawyer, Intezar Panjotha , Khan was arrested at his residence in the eastern city of Lahore on Saturday.
“Police have arrested Imran Khan from his residence,” Mr Panjotha told Reuters. "We are filing a petition against the decision in high court.”
Lahore’s Police Chief Bilal Siddique Kamiana confirmed the arrest and told Reuters the politician was being transferred to the capital, Islamabad.
Khan‘s political party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) said in a statement they had already filed another appeal to the Supreme Court earlier on Saturday.
Read MoreThe conviction came just a day after Pakistan’s high court had temporarily halted the district court trial. It was not immediately clear why the trial had proceeded despite the high court decision.
Khan‘s arrest and detention for several days in May over a separate case had sparked intense political turmoil and deadly clashes had erupted between Khan supporters and police.
The latest arrest comes in the lead up to an election expected to take place in the next three months. Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has proposed that parliament be dissolved on Aug. 9, three days before the end of its term, according to political, paving the way for a general election by November.
Pakistani media and a Reuters witness described police surrounding Khan‘s residence in Lahore on Saturday after verdict was released.
The sentence relates to an inquiry conducted by the election commission, which found Khan guilty of unlawfully selling state gifts during his tenure as prime minister from 2018 to 2022.
Khan has denied any wrongdoing.
The 70-year-old cricketer-turned-politician was accused of misusing his premiership to buy and sell gifts in state possession that were received during visits abroad and worth more than 140 million Pakistani rupees ($635,000)
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