Former Pakistani Prime Minister, Imran Khan, was arrested in a dramatic scene at an Islamabad courthouse on Tuesday. The ex-cricket star faced multiple corruption charges brought by the National Accountability Bureau, Pakistan’s anti-corruption agency, according to CNN.
Paramilitary troops forcefully broke into the courthouse during Khan’s appearance, causing chaos as they apprehended him. Footage of the incident, provided by Khan’s party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), revealed the troops storming the Islamabad High Court premises, with Khan looking on passively from behind dark sunglasses.
Khan, who was ousted from power last year, has been a vocal critic of the current government led by Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif, accusing it of colluding with the military to remove him from office. In a pre-recorded statement released by PTI, Khan claimed his detention was based on “incorrect charges” and that he was being silenced from fighting for the country’s fundamental rights.
The PTI spokesperson, Fawad Chaudhry, decried Khan’s arrest as an “abduction.” Khan, 72, has faced multiple legal cases and arrest warrants since his ousting, leading to confrontations with his supporters.
In March, Khan’s Lahore residence was the site of violent clashes between police and his supporters. The altercation occurred when Khan refused to appear in court on corruption charges. The situation escalated to the point of tear gas being fired into the compound and power to the residence cut off.
Khan continues to reject the allegations against him, dismissing them as politically motivated.
Xylo News 