Former Prime Minister Imran Khan Arrested and Sentenced to Three Years in Prison
Former Prime Minister Imran Khan has been arrested and sentenced to three years in prison after a trial court found him guilty of hiding assets. This verdict will likely eliminate his chances of contesting the upcoming general elections.
Mr. Khan was taken into custody by the police from his home in Lahore immediately after the court’s decision was announced in Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan. The court also imposed a fine of approximately $355.
The case stems from an inquiry by the country’s election commission, which discovered last October that Mr. Khan had illegally sold gifts given to him by other countries during his tenure as prime minister and concealed the profits from authorities. Mr. Khan, however, denies any wrongdoing.
In response to the verdict, Mr. Khan’s political party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, rejected it, labeling it as “the worst example of political revenge.” On the other hand, members of the governing coalition praised the outcome, with Attaullah Tarar, a leader of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, asserting that Mr. Khan “cannot escape justice” and must pay for his alleged corrupt practices.
This is not the first time Mr. Khan has faced legal troubles. He was briefly arrested earlier this year in a separate case, which sparked violent protests and attacks on military installations across the country. Following that incident, the country’s establishment initiated a crackdown, leading to the arrest of several prominent members of Mr. Khan’s party. Additionally, many party leaders have defected, some of whom are now in hiding.
Mr. Khan was removed from power last year through a no-confidence vote in Parliament. Ever since then, he has spearheaded a powerful political movement accusing the military of orchestrating his ouster, a claim that the military denies.
Given Mr. Khan’s arrest, police forces in various cities have been placed on alert to ensure the safety and security of the public in case his supporters take to the streets in protest. It is expected that Mr. Khan and his legal team will appeal the verdict and assert objections about the judge’s alleged bias, seeking a transfer of the case to another judge.