NewsPoliticsTop StoryWorld

Imran Khan, Pakistan’s ex-PM, arrested in court

Pakistan’s anti-corruption agency arrested former Prime Minister Imran Khan at Islamabad High Court on Tuesday, in a dramatic move that threatens fresh turmoil in the nuclear-armed country as his party called for nationwide “shut down” protests. Footage of the arrest showed dozens of security personnel in riot-control gear surrounding Khan and leading him into a black van by his arm. Dozens of supporters blocked streets in Khan’s hometown of Lahore, where police have been put on high alert. Protesters also blocked a major road in the port city of Karachi. The Associated Press has the story:

Imran Khan, Pakistan’s ex-PM, arrested in court

Newslooks- ISLAMABAD (AP)

Pakistan’s former Prime Minister Imran Khan was arrested Tuesday as he appeared in a court in the country’s capital, Islamabad, to face charges in multiple graft cases. Security agents dragged Khan outside and shoved him into an armored car before whisking him away.

The arrest, which marks a dramatic escalation on Pakistan’s political scene, drew nationwide condemnation from supporters of the popular opposition leader and former cricket star turned Islamist politician.

LIVE Updates: Former Pakistan PM Imran Khan Arrested From Islamabad Court
Imran Khan Arrested: His party also shared the video, alleging the leader was “badly pushed”.

Khan was dragged outside the Islamabad High Court and pushed into a police vehicle by agents from the National Accountability Bureau, according to Fawad Chaudhry, a senior official with Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party.

Chaudhry denounced the arrest as “an abduction.” Pakistan’s independent GEO TV broadcast images of the 72-year-old Khan being pulled by security forces towards an armored vehicle, which took him away.

Private security personnel clear the way for a vehicle carrying Pakistan’s former Prime Minister Imran Khan arriving for court appearance, in Islamabad, Pakistan, Tuesday, May 9, 2023. Officials from the party of Pakistan’s former Prime Minister Khan say he has been arrested as he appeared in a court in the capital, Islamabad, to face charges in multiple graft cases. (AP Photo/Ghulam Farid)

Khan was ousted in a no-confidence vote in April 2022. He has claimed his ouster was illegal and a Western conspiracy and has campaigned against the government of his successor, Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif, demanding early elections.

After Khan was taken away, a scuffle broke out between Khan’s supporters and police outside the court. Chaudhry said some of Khan’s lawyers and supporters were injured in the scuffle, as were several policemen. Khan’s party immediately complained to the Islamabad High Court, which requested a police report explaining the charges for Khan’s arrest.

Private security personnels escort former Prime Minister Imran Khan, center in wheelchair, as he arrives to appear in a court, in Islamabad, Pakistan, Tuesday, May 9, 2023. Officials from the party of Pakistan’s former Prime Minister Khan say he has been arrested as he appeared in a court in the capital, Islamabad, to face charges in multiple graft cases. (AP Photo)

Officials from the anti-corruption body said that Pakistan’s National Accountability Bureau had issued arrest warrants for Khan last week in a separate graft case, for which he had not obtained bail — something that would protect him from arrest under the country’s laws. The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Khan would be brought to appear before an anti-graft tribunal later on Tuesday.

Pakistan’s riot police officers stand guard with an armored vehicle outside a court, where Pakistan’s former Prime Minister Imran Khan appearing, in Islamabad, Pakistan, Tuesday, May 9, 2023. Officials from the party of Pakistan’s former Prime Minister Khan say he has been arrested as he appeared in a court in the capital, Islamabad, to face charges in multiple graft cases. (AP Photo/Ghulam Farid)

Khan was later moved to the garrison city of Rawalpindi, near Islamabad, where he was to be questioned at the offices of the National Accountability Bureau. He was also to undergo a medical checkup, according to procedure, police said.

Khan had arrived in Islamabad earlier on Tuesday from the nearby city of Lahore, where he resides, to face charges before the Islamabad High Court in multiple graft cases. He has claimed that the cases, which include terrorism charges, are a plot by Sharif’s government to discredit him.

Private security personnel with bulletproof shields escort former Prime Minister Imran Khan as he arrives to appear in a court, in Islamabad, Pakistan, Tuesday, May 9, 2023. Officials from the party of Pakistan’s former Prime Minister Khan say he has been arrested as he appeared in a court in the capital, Islamabad, to face charges in multiple graft cases. (AP Photo/Ghulam Farid)

As the news of the arrest spread, Khan’s supporters started gathering in Lahore, chanting anti-government slogans.

The arrest is “blatant interference in the judicial affairs by the powers-that-be,” Raoof Hasan, another leader from Khan’s party, told Al Jazeera English television. “We are completely in the dark. He was virtually abducted from the court of law.”

In the port city of Karachi, police swung batons and fired tear gas to disperse hundreds of Khan supporters who had blocked a key road. Police were also trying to disperse demonstrators in Lahore, who briefly blocked key roads there as they rallied, mostly peacefully, against Khan’s arrest.

“Imran Khan has been arrested because he was being sought in a graft case,” Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah Khan told a news conference. He claimed Khan had caused millions of dollars in losses to the country’s treasury by illegally purchasing lands from a business tycoon while in office.

Pakistani paramilitary troops walks in a court, where Pakistan’s former Prime Minister Imran Khan appearing, in Islamabad, Pakistan, Tuesday, May 9, 2023. Officials from the party of Pakistan’s former Prime Minister Khan say he has been arrested as he appeared in a court in the capital, Islamabad, to face charges in multiple graft cases. (AP Photo/Ghulam Farid)

The arrest came hours after Khan issued a video message before heading to Islamabad, saying he was “mentally prepared” for arrest — an indication he may have known what awaited him in the capital.

Khan was wounded by a shooter during a rally last November — an attack which killed one of his supporters and wounded 13. He has insisted, without offering any evidence, that there is a plot to kill him, and has alleged that the country’s spy agency was behind the conspiracy to assassinate him.

The gunman was immediately arrested, and police later released a video of him in custody, allegedly saying he had acted alone.

Supporters of Pakistan’s former Prime Minister Imran Khan throws stones after police fire tear gas to disperse them protesting against the arrest of their leader, in Lahore, Pakistan, Tuesday, May 9, 2023. Khan was arrested Tuesday as he appeared in a court in the country’s capital, Islamabad, to face charges in multiple graft cases. Security agents dragged Khan outside and shoved him into an armored car before whisking him away. (AP Photo/K.M.Chaudary)

On Monday, the military in a strongly worded statement criticized Khan of “fabricated and malicious allegations” of its involvement in the November shooting, saying they are “extremely unfortunate, deplorable and unacceptable.”

Sharif, whose government is facing a spiraling economy and is struggling to recover from last year’s devastated flooding that killed hundreds and caused $30 billion in damages, slammed Khan for assailing the military.

“Let this be abundantly clear that you, as former prime minister, currently on trial for corruption, are claiming legitimacy to overturn the legal and political system,” Prime Minister Sharif tweeted after Khan’s arrest.

FILE – Protected by a bulletproof barrier, former Prime Minister Imran Khan speaks during a rally in Lahore, Pakistan, Sunday, March 26, 2023. Officials from the party of Pakistan’s former Prime Minister Imran Khan say on Tuesday, May 9, 2023 he has been arrested as he appeared in a court in the capital, Islamabad, to face charges in multiple graft cases. (AP Photo/K.M. Chaudhry, File)

Khan is the seventh former prime minister to be arrested in Pakistan. Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was arrested and hanged in 1979. The current prime minister’s brother, Nawaz Sharif, who also served as prime minister, was arrested on several occasions over corruption allegations.

In March, police stormed Khan’s Lahore residence, seeking to arrest him based on a court order in a different case. Dozens of people, including policemen, were injured in ensuing clashes. Khan was not arrested at the time and later got bail ibn the case.

Supporters of Pakistan’s former Pakistan’s former Prime Minister Imran Khan hold a banner of their leader next to burning tires during a protest to condemn the arrest of their leader, in Hyderabad, Pakistan, Tuesday, May 9, 2023. Khan was arrested Tuesday as he appeared in a court in the country’s capital, Islamabad, to face charges in multiple graft cases. Security agents dragged Khan outside and shoved him into an armored car before whisking him away. (AP Photo/Pervez Masih)

Khan came to power in 2018 after winning parliamentary elections. His initially good relations with the country’s military soured gradually. The military has directly ruled Pakistan for more than half of the 75 years since the country gained independence from British colonial rule, and wields considerable power over civilian governments.

For more world news

Previous Article
Biden calls for ‘fair deal’ for Hollywood writers
Next Article
DeSantis PAC ramps up hiring into Super Tues.

How useful was this article?

Click on a star to rate it!

Average rating 0 / 5. Vote count: 0

No votes so far! Be the first to rate this article.

Latest News

Menu