Imran Khan arrest LIVE updates
According to local reports, the PTI chairman was taken into custody by Rangers, a paramilitary federal law enforcement corps. Khan was scheduled to appear before the Islamabad High Court in a mutiny case and another pertaining to charges of attempted murder.
According to a Reuters report citing an eyewitness, as soon as Khan entered the gate of the IHC, contingents of paramilitary forces and armoured personnel carriers entered after him. The gate was blocked by the armoured vehicles while Khan was whisked away under heavy security.
PTI leader Hammad Azhar said that Imran’s arrest was “not acceptable” and asserted that the PTI chief “is our red line”. He called on the nation to take to the streets against Imran’s arrest.
The former premier’s detention follows several unsuccessful attempts, including a police raid at his residence in Lahore’s Zaman Park, to arrest Imran.
The Islamabad police said that Section 144 has been imposed in the national capital.
Here are the top developments:
Arrest in Al-Qadir Trust case: Islamabad Police
Islamabad police released a statement quoting Inspector General (IG) Akbar Nasir Khan as saying that Imran had been arrested in relation to the Al-Qadir Trust case, in which it is alleged that the PTI chief and his wife obtained billions of rupees from a real estate firm for legalising PKR 50 billion.
The police chief also said that the situation in Islamabad was “normal”, adding that Section 144 had been imposed in the city and action would be taken against violators.
Meanwhile, interior minister Rana Sanaullah said that Imran 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,” he said.
Imran Khan abducted, being tortured: PTI leaders
PTI vice-president Fawad Chaudhry tweeted that the IHC has been “occupied by the Rangers” and lawyers “are being subjected to torture”.
In another tweet, Fawad alleged that Imran had been “abducted” from the court premises while score of lawyers and general people had been “tortured”.
“Imran Khan has been whisked away by unknown people to an unknown location,” he said.
Another PTI leader Azhar Mashwani alleged that Khan had been “abducted” from inside the court by the Rangers. He said the party had given an immediate call for staging protests across the country.
IHC Chief Justice pulls up police
Reacting to the development, IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq slammed the Islamabad police and directed the concerned officials to appear before the court immediately.
The IHC CJ said that he was showing “restraint” and warned that he would “summon” the PM if the Islamabad police chief did not appear before the court.
“Come to court and tell us why has Imran been arrested and in which case,” Justice Farooq said.
Khan’s video message moments before arrest
While on his way to the IHC, Khan had released a video message in which he doubled down on his allegations against a serving senior military officer, who he has accused on several occasions of hatching a plot to assassinate him.
Imran, who was shot and wounded while campaigning in November, said the threat to his life is greater than before and asserted — without providing evidence — that his political opponents and the military want to block him from standing in elections later this year.
Khan, 70, used a rally over the weekend to accuse the military of being behind at least two attempts to murder him, focusing on the alleged involvement of a senior official from the Inter-Service Intelligence.
“Before I leave (for IHC), I want to say this. This man [military officer] tried to kill me twice and whenever an investigation is carried out, I will prove that it was this man and there is a whole gang with him,” Imran said, adding that the nation was well aware of who was standing with the officer in question.
Further details awaited.
Watch Former Pakistan PM Imran Khan arrested from outside Islamabad high court