Former Pakistan prime minister arrested as court hands down three-year jail sentence in corruption case

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Pakistani police arrested the nation’s former prime minister Imran Khan after a court docket sentenced him to a few years.

“The district Court docket has indicted Chairman PTI Imran Khan . . . citing an affidavit based mostly on falsified information,” a spokesman for Khan advised Fox Information Digital. “Nonetheless, it is vital to say there was no likelihood given to current witnesses, neither was time allotted to spherical up arguments meant to complete by the top of the day, right now.”

The spokesman alleged that the decide had “conspicuously” reached his choice “at haste” to stop Khan from contesting the upcoming electoral race. 

“An enchantment within the Supreme Court docket has already been filed,” the spokesman defined, claiming that the excessive court docket has denied Khan’s group the best to pursue the case by means of “one other court docket” following objections they raised.

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Authorized consultants agree that the Islamabad Excessive Court docket verdict will forestall Khan from contesting the elections in November, eradicating present Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s best problem to re-election. 

Imran Khan trial

Pakistan’s former Prime Minister Imran Khan (C) leaves after showing within the Supreme Court docket in Islamabad on July 26, 2023. (Aamir Qureshi/AFP through Getty Photographs)

Following Saturday’s verdict, Khan launched a pre-recorded assertion, telling his supporters that the video would probably attain the general public by the point of his arrest. 

“I’ve just one enchantment: Don’t sit silently at dwelling,” Khan stated within the video posted to Fb. “I’m struggling for you and the nation and your youngsters’s future.” 

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Khan’s spokesman supplied images and video that appeared to point out protests in opposition to Khan’s arrest, however Fox Information Digital couldn’t confirm them. Reuters reported that response instantly following the requires protest from Khan and his social gathering had been met with a muted response. 

Police Islamabad Arrest

Pakistani forces take safety measures on the entry level to the town because the motorcade of former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan arrives in Islamabad following Khan arrest at his residence within the jap metropolis in Lahore on August 5, 2023, in Islamabad, Pakistan. 23.  (Muhammad Reza/Anadolu Company through Getty Photographs)

Khan, a former cricket participant of worldwide renown, gained workplace in Pakistan’s parliament in 2002 and have become prime minister in 2018. Pakistan handed its first and solely no-confidence vote in opposition to a sitting prime minister final 12 months to take away Khan from energy. 

Authorities officers earlier this 12 months alleged Khan and his spouse had acquired land price tens of millions of {dollars} as bribes, in addition to an vintage watch, a gold pen, a hoop and cufflinks he acquired as presents whereas prime minister then allegedly offered for private revenue, The Guardian reported. 

Protests Court Corruption

Legal professionals and supporters of former Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan collect and shout slogans in opposition to Khan’s arrest exterior his residence in Lahore on August 5, 2023. Khan was discovered responsible of graft on August 5 and sentenced to a few years in jail, state TV stated, in a case involving presents he acquired whereas premier. (Rana Irfan Ali/Anadolu Company through Getty Photographs)

Police arrested Khan and held him at a police facility in Islamabad, the place supporters gathered round in protest, often clashing with the police. The supporters then attacked a number of army property in protest over his arrest, vandalizing an air base, a number of garrisons and the home of a basic, resulting in Khan’s short-term launch.

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In a recent interview with Fox News Digital – one of many final given earlier than his arrest – Khan admitted that he knew it was “a query of time” earlier than the court docket would order his arrest.

Imran Khan arrested

Legal professionals and supporters of former Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan collect and shout slogans in opposition to Khan’s arrest exterior his residence in Lahore on August 5, 2023. Khan was discovered responsible of graft on August 5 and sentenced to a few years in jail, state TV stated, in a case involving presents he acquired whereas premier.  (Rana Irfan Ali/Anadolu Company through Getty Photographs)

Khan alleged that the allegations arose following a break up between Khan and the nation’s army command. He advised Fox Information Digital that ex-army chief Qamar Javed Bajwa “engineered the entire thing,” utilizing intelligence companies to divide Khan’s social gathering and preserve them distant from allies.”

The contemporary verdict decided that Khan had made “false statements” about buying state presents, which amounted to “corrupt practices” to cover “advantages he accrued from nationwide exchequer willfully and deliberately.” 

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“He cheated whereas offering details about presents he obtained from Toshakhana (the state present repository) which later proved to be false and inaccurate,” the court docket stated. 

Data Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb stated Khan’s arrest had adopted a full investigation and correct authorized proceedings in a trial court docket. She stated his arrest was unrelated to the upcoming elections.

Reuters contributed to this report.

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