Former Pakistani prime minister Imran Khan was arrested Saturday after being sentenced to three years in prison in the Toshakhana case. A magistrate's court in Islamabad also banned Imran Khan from active politics for five years.
Khan is accused of profiting from selling expensive state gifts while in power.
Imran Khan, President of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), was arrested by Islamabad Police in cooperation with Punjab Police at his home in Lahore following the court ruling. He was sent to Islamabad from Lahore. PTI Secretary General Omar Ayub Khan said: “Imran Khan has been arrested. Peaceful protest is the constitutional right of all Pakistanis.
The party's Punjab unit in a tweet said: "'Imran Khan has moved to Kot Lakhpat prison.'
The 70-year-old politician, also a former cricketer, is accused of profiting from selling expensive state gifts while in office. On Friday, the Supreme Court of Pakistan rejected Imran Khan's defense of the case, remarking that the request to transfer the case to another court is pending in the Islamabad High Court (IHC).
Imran Khan has denied any wrongdoing and his legal team said they would file an immediate appeal.
"Police arrested Imran Khan at his home," Khan's lawyer, Intezar Panjotha, told Reuters. “We are filing a lawsuit against the decision in the Supreme Court.
Pakistan's The Dawn newspaper reported that the Islamabad Magistrates Court today found Imran Khan guilty of "corruption" in the Toshakhana case.
Additional Judge Humayun Dilawar of the Islamabad-based District and Session Court also fined Khan 100,000 rupees, adding that he would be detained for another six months if he did not pay the fine.
At today's hearing, the judge ruled that the charges against the former prime minister were substantiated. “Imran Khan submitted false information to the Election Commission of Pakistan and was found guilty of corruption,” he said.
The ruling came a day after the Islamabad High Court (IHC) overturned the first instance court's decision to uphold the viability of the Toshakhana case over criminal charges against Khan. A large police force was deployed in front of Imran Khan's house and traffic was blocked on the way to Zaman Park. Gatherings and demonstrations are not allowed, according to Geo News.
When the court's decision was announced, a crowd, including prosecutors, began chanting "Imran Khan is a thief" outside the building, the BBC reported. Ahead of today's proceedings, a large contingent of police was deployed outside the court grounds, with only lawyers allowed into the courtroom, according to reports.
"It is shameful and disgusting that a violation of the law has occurred simply out of a desire to disqualify and imprison Imran Khan," his PTI party said in a statement. Calling the court's decision "biased," the party said it would oppose the District Court's decision and the High Court sessions.
"The country will never accept such a plot and such an attempt to take revenge on the nation's most popular and trusted political leader," the party said in a statement.
On the other hand, PMLN, a party of Nawaz Sharif, said: "Khan, who stole gifts from Tosha Khana and sold them on the black market, turned out to be a certified thief because he did not present anything. What can I do to defend myself in court?
