In Lahore, Imran Khan, the Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), was arrested on Saturday shortly after an Islamabad court found him guilty of graft in the Toshakhana case.
While the court proceedings were taking place, Imran Khan was at his Zaman Park residence in Lahore. The Additional District and Sessions Judge (ADSJ) Humayun Dilawar ordered the police to arrest him in his absence.
The Punjab Police entered Imran Khan’s Lahore residence through the back door and found him wearing a blue tracksuit while having lunch. Despite Khan’s request to finish his meal, the law enforcers insisted on executing the court’s arrest orders immediately.
The police took Imran Khan into custody, and his guards were stopped within the premises of his home. This arrest led to protests in various cities across the nation, with the PTI vowing to challenge the lower court’s decision in the superior courts.
As a result of the graft conviction in the Toshakhana case, the former prime minister was sentenced to three years in jail, which could potentially disqualify him from participating in the upcoming elections later this year. In Pakistan, individuals convicted of criminal offenses are barred from contesting elections. The current parliament is expected to be dissolved within the next two weeks before completing its term, and a national vote is scheduled for later this year or early next year.
Judge Dilawar emphasized in the ruling that Imran Khan’s dishonesty had been clearly established, referring to a case centered on gifts he received during his tenure as premier but failed to properly declare.