Former Pakistan PM Imran Khan Arrested Outside Islamabad High Court

Former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan was arrested outside the Islamabad High Court where he appeared in the Alqadir Trust case.

File Photo: Imran Khan

Former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan has been arrested outside the Islamabad High Court, said a report by the Dawn. Khan's arrest was confirmed by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf lawyer Faisal Chaudhry as well. PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry said in a tweet that the IHC has been occupied by the Rangers and lawyers are being subjected to torture. He denounced the arrest as an abduction. PTI chairman Khan was taken into custody by Pakistani Rangers after he appeared in the Alqadir Trust case. The allegations are that Bahria Town, a private real estate company, allotted land worth 530 million Pakistani rupees to Al-Qadir Trust which is owned by the PTI chairman and his wife. Khan was arrested on the orders of National Accountability Bureau (NAB). According to NAB officials, they issued an arrest warrants against Khan on May 1.

Releasing a statement, Islamabad Police confirmed Khan's arrest. "Imran Khan has been arrested in the Qadir Trust case. Situation is normal. Section 144 is in force and action will be taken in case of violation," said police quoting IG Islamabad. The police earlier said that it surrounded Khan's car and no force was used against anybody. Barrister Gohar Khan, who claimed to have seen Pak Rangers arresting Khan, alleged that the PTI leader was tortured and hit in leg. It may be recalled that Khan was shot in the leg months ago. Gohar also claimed that the Rangers threw Khan's wheelchair during the arrest.

According to reports, the court earlier also took cognisance of Khan's arrest and IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq has reportedly directed the Islamabad police chief and the secretary of the interior ministry to appear before the court within 15 minutes to explain why and which case has the arrest been made. Chief Justice Aamer Farooq said that he has shown restraint and warned to summon Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif if the Islamabad police chief did not appear before the court.

Imran Khan has been facing corruption allegations in the Toshakhana case and has been at the odds with Pakistani Army. Imran Khan has in the past levelled many allegations against Pakistani army officials including that of corruption. The former Pakistani PM also accused an army officer of being involved in the assassination attempt against him. Yesterday, Pakistan Army lashed out at Imran Khan accusing him of levelling highly irresponsible and baseless allegations against a serving senior military officer without any evidence.

Imran Khan's arrest comes days after the former PM evaded several unsuccessful attempts by the police to arrest him in the past. It also includes a police raid at his residence in Lahore’s Zaman Park.