FORMER PAKISTAN PM IMRAN KHAN ARRESTED AFTER COURT HANDS HIM THREE-YEAR JAIL SENTENCE

Sat 05 August 2023:

Police in Pakistan detained former prime minister Imran Khan in the eastern city of Lahore, after a Pakistani trial court sentenced him to three years in prison for Toshakhana corruption case (illegally selling state gifts).

The 70-year-old cricketer-turned-politician was accused of misusing his premiership minister from 2018 to 2022 to buy and sell gifts in state possession that were received during visits abroad and worth more than 140 million Pakistani rupees ($635,000).

PTI’s Punjab Chapter confirmed the reports with a tweet: “Imran Khan is being moved to Kot Lakhpat Jail.”

عمران خان کو کوٹ لکھپٹ جیل منتقل کیا جا رہا ہے

— PTI Punjab (@PTIPunjabPK) August 5, 2023

“The court finds its https://twitter.com/IpIndependentmore than convincing that the complainant (ECP) had provided confidence-inspiring, well-knitted and corroborated evidence, and so the charge against the accused has successfully been proven that the accused has committed offence of corrupt practices by making and publishing false statements/declaration in respect of assets acquired by way of gifts from Toshakhana and disposed of during years 2018-2019 and 2019-2020,” Additional District and Sessions Judge (ADSJ) Humayun Dilawar said in a short order, a copy of which is available with Dawn.com.

The judge said that Imran also provided an “incorrect declaration” in the Form-B — the statement of assets and liabilities — submitted to the ECP for the year 2020-2021.

“He has been found guilty of corrupt practices by hiding the benefits he accured from the national exchequer wilfully and intentionally. He cheated while providing information of gifts he obtained from Toshakhana which later proved to be false and inaccurate.

“His dishonesty has been established beyond doubt,” the court order added.

It further said that the PTI chief was convincted under Section 174 (Offence of corrupt practices) of the Election Act and sentenced to three years in prison.

ADSJ Dilawar also directed that a copy of the order, along with the arrest warrant, should be sent to the Islamabad police chief for execution.

Chairman Imran Khan’s message:

My arrest was expected & I recorded this message before my arrest.

It is one more step in fulfilling London Plan but I want my party workers to remain peaceful, steadfast and strong.

We bow before no one but Allah who is Al Haq. We believe in… pic.twitter.com/1kqg6HQVac

— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) August 5, 2023

Khan’s lawyer Intezar Panjotha told the Reuters news agency police arrested Khan from his residence. “We are filing a petition against the decision in high court,” Panjotha added.

Al Jazeera’s Kamal Hyder, reporting from Islamabad, said protocol requires prime ministers to store the objects in the state’s safe house, while Khan is accused of having sold them at a profit.

Hyder added that the opposition leader’s residence had been sealed off and that security forces were patrolling the area.

Unlike previous instances, where Zaman Park was usually guarded by party supporters, Imran was taken into custody today without any major resistance. The PTI also confirmed this in a tweet, saying that the party chief didn’t resist the arrest.

Live scenes from Zaman Park after the arrest of Imran Khan.#ImranKhan @PTIofficial pic.twitter.com/BRHDP0TPWA

— INDEPENDENT PRESS (@IpIndependent) August 5, 2023

The Toshakhana issue over the sale of state gifts received by the former cricketer-turned-politician became a major issue in national politics after the ECP disqualified Khan on October 21, 2022, for making “false statements and incorrect declaration”.

The Toshakhana is a department under the Cabinet Division that stores gifts given to rulers and government officials by heads of other governments and foreign dignitaries. Khan bought some of the gifts, including a precious watch, and sold the same for profit.

The conviction came just a day after Pakistan’s high court had temporarily halted the district court trial. It was not immediately clear why the trial had proceeded despite the high court decision.

He has denied any wrongdoing, saying the charges are politically motivated.

Scenes after Imran Khan's arrest from Zaman Park in Lahore. #ImranKhanArrest #ImranKhan @PTIofficial pic.twitter.com/eBsrFMbjkU

— INDEPENDENT PRESS (@IpIndependent) August 5, 2023

Legal experts say a conviction in the case could end his chances of participating in national elections that have to be held before early November.

Khan is currently facing more than 140 cases across the country and faces charges like terrorism, violence, blasphemy, corruption and murder.

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has proposed that parliament be dissolved on August 9, three days before the end of its term, according to political, paving the way for a the vote.

There have been no reports of emerging protests in any of the major cities immediately after Saturday’s arrest.

Khan was ousted from power in April last year after losing a no-confidence vote, which he alleged was part of a US-led conspiracy targeting him because of his independent foreign policy decisions on Russia, China and Afghanistan.