Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan was arrested today just as he was entering the Islamabad High Court for a hearing in one of dozens of cases pending since he was ousted from office last year. Mr Khan was taken into custody from the court premises by paramilitary forces; leaders from his party, Pakistan-Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), have alleged that the police entered the court and dragged him outside to arrest him.
Imran Khan has been arrested in the Qadir Trust case (which concerns allegations that Bahria Town allotted land worth ₹ 530 million to Al-Qadir Trust, owned by the PTI chairman Mr Khan and his wife), Islamabad Police tweeted in Urdu, adding that the situation is “normal”.
“Section 144 is in force and action will be taken in case of violation,” Islamabad police warned as PTI called for supporters to take to the streets in protest.
A video showing a swarm of paramilitary personnel surrounding Imran Khan and whisking him away to an armoured vehicle has gone viral on social media. Imran Khan’s party also shared the video, alleging he was “badly pushed”.
Pakistan Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah tweeted that Imran Khan had failed to appear before the court despite being issued several notices. “The arrest has been conducted by the National Accountability Bureau for causing losses to the national treasury. No violence was done to him,” he tweeted in Urdu.
Hours before going to court, Imran Khan released a video doubling down on his allegations against top ISI officer Major-General Faisal Naseer, who he says was involved in the assassination attempt against him in Wazirabad. He had two days also claimed that Major Naseer was involved in the brutal murder of senior journalist Arshad Sharif.
The former Pakistan PM has evaded arrest several times recently, including the dramatic escape from a police raid at his residence in Lahore’s Zaman Park.
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