Former Pakistan Prime Minister, Imran Khan, was arrested after being sentenced to three year jail term by a Pakistan trial court on Saturday. The court found him guilty of illegally selling state gifts, popularly knwon as the Toshakhana corruption case. The court also disqualified him from politics for five years.
Media showing this visual as post arrest scenes pic.twitter.com/XNom2ANibS
— Syed Talat Hussain (@TalatHussain12) August 5, 2023
Imran Khan was not in court for the hearing. Soon after the announcement, Pakistan police arrested Imran Khan from his residence, reported Reuters citing Imran Khan’s lawyers statement.
“Judge Humayun Dilawar announced that involvement in corrupt practices has been proven,” reported AFP quoting Pakistan TV.
The 70-year-old cricketer-turned-politician was accused of misusing his premiership to buy and sell gifts in state possession that were received during visits abroad and worth more than 140 million Pakistani rupees ($635,000).
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan was arrested from his Zaman Park residence in Lahore soon after being convicted in the Toshakhana case on Saturday.
In a major development, a district and sessions court in the federal capital convicted the former prime minister for corrupt practices related to the state gift depository — allegations which he denies.
عمران خان زمان پارک سے گرفتار، جیل منتقلی کا عمل شروع۔ pic.twitter.com/HC0rf57hc3
— Sanam Jamali🇵🇰 (@sana_J2) August 5, 2023
Imran Khan is facing over 150 cases brought against him since he was ousted in April last year. In contrast, Imran Khan alleges that the cases are politically motivated. On his arrest, Imran Khan’s legal team said that they would be filing an immediate appeal.
“It’s important to mention there was no chance given to present witnesses, neither was time allotted to round up arguments,” a member of the team said, reported AFP.
Rejecting Khan’s petition seeking inadmissibility of the case, Judge Dilawar sentenced the former prime minister to three-year imprisonment.
“Charges of misdeclaration of assets have been proven against PTI chairman,” the Additional and Sessions Judge Humayun Dilawar mentioned in his judgment.
عمران خان چوتھے وزیراعظم ہیں جن کو عدلیہ سے سزا ملی۔۔ بھٹو، یوسف رضا گیلانی، نواز شریف اور اب عمران خان۔۔
یہ افسوسناک ہے کوئی خوشی کی بات نہیں۔— Waseem Abbasi (@Wabbasi007) August 5, 2023
He then handed Khan three years in jail along with a fine of Rs100,000, while issuing an arrest warrant for his immediate arrest.
Legal experts say a conviction in the case could end Khan’s chances of participating in the upcoming national elections.
The former prime minister had challenged the Toshakhana case, related to the alleged misdeclaration of gifts he took from the state gifts repository, on several forums including the Supreme Court and Islamabad High Court (IHC).
#BREAKING: Imran Khan arrested in Pakistan from his Zaman Park residence after being convicted for three years in the Tosha Khana case and disqualified from politics. Imran Khan being transferred to prison. pic.twitter.com/2G1ETDxEzO
— Aditya Raj Kaul (@AdityaRajKaul) August 5, 2023
The trial court had summoned Khan in his personal capacity today (Saturday) for a hearing in the Toshakhana case after the high court rejected his pleas challenging the maintainability order.
On Friday, the IHC also turned down Khan’s request to transfer the case to another court and directed Additional Sessions Judge Humayun Dilawar to continue hearing the case.
PTI Chairman Imran Khan convicted for three years in Tosha Khana case. PTI confirms Khan has been arrested from his Lahore residence. pic.twitter.com/sUfQ1a7QzG
— Sahar Baloch (@Saherb1) August 5, 2023
The case centres on a government department known as Toshakhana, which during the Mughal era referred to the “treasure houses” kept by the subcontinent’s princely rulers to store and display gifts lavished on them.
Government officials must declare all gifts, but are allowed to keep those below a certain value.
#Pakistan
Imran Khan arrested from Zaman Park by the Punjab Police.Islamabad police was ordered by the district Court and Punjab police assisted. Something that was planned already.
– PTI pic.twitter.com/1QwgZDQWKk— Geeta Mohan گیتا موہن गीता मोहन (@Geeta_Mohan) August 5, 2023
More expensive items must go to Toshakhana, but in some cases the recipient can buy them back at about 50% of their value – a discount that Khan raised from 20% while in office.
Pakistani newspapers have for months carried stories alleging that Khan and his wife Bushra Maneka received lavish gifts worth millions during trips abroad. They included luxury watches, jewellery, designer handbags and perfumes.
Khan is accused of failing to declare some gifts, or the profit made from selling them.
The complaint to the election commission was first brought when Khan was still in office by the Pakistan Democratic Movement, a coalition whose members now make up the government.
https://twitter.com/salmakousarSK/status/1687742266473906176
At the time, Khan said he had not made public some gifts on national security grounds, but in a written submission admitted buying items worth nearly Rs. 22 million, and later selling them for more than twice that amount.
He says the valuation was done through proper channels.
Khan’s supporters gathered on Friday in cities across the country, including Islamabad, to protest against the decision, and some clashed with police later in the day. Hospitals were put on high alert and security was stepped up, with paramilitary forces deployed in the capital.
Meanwhile, political parties from the government celebrated the decision. Their supporters distributed sweets in some towns after Khan’s disqualification.
Former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan arrested and taken to jail after being sentenced to 3 years in prison… he has decried the allegations as politically motivated
Last time he was detained there was mass unrest, but since then there’s been a huge crackdown on his party https://t.co/bnKYWPeool
— Secunder Kermani (@SecKermani) August 5, 2023
Ahmed Bilal Mehboob, president of the Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development and Transparency, said the ruling would undermine the anti-corruption platform Khan had tried to make his own. But he added that it was difficult to understand the basis for disqualification.
“Overall, on the basis of the limited information available, it seems to be a weak judgment. In this case, there are at least two chances to appeal against this order; at the high court and supreme court. I think if Khan gets a quick relief from the high court against this order, it will be quite embarrassing for the ECP, and Khan’s position may be further strengthened as a result,” said Mehboob.
Great and brave leader of Pakistan Chairman PTI Imran Khan arrested from Zaman Park Lahore and shifted to the Kot Lakhpat Jail Lahore. Remember all are bogus cases against him without giving him fair trial #عوام_کپتان_کے_ساتھ_ہے #دلاور_کی_جانبداری_نامنظور pic.twitter.com/bo4qio3OxX
— Hina Zainab (@hina98_hina) August 5, 2023
Imran Khan rode to power in 2018 on a populist platform promising social reforms, religious conservatism and a fight against corruption, overturning decades of rule by two feuding political dynasties interspersed with military takeovers.
But under his tenure the economy stagnated and he lost the support of the army, which was accused of helping to get him elected.
Toshakhana case
The case that was filed by the ECP in May alleges Pakistan Prime Minister of ‘deliberately concealing’ details of the gifts he retained from the Toshakhana. It is a repository where presents offered to government officials during their foreign visits are kept. The PM was alleged of concealing the details of gifts that were kept during his tenure.
The Toshakhana rules say that the details of the gifts and presents offered to respective officials shall be reported to the Cabinet Division. Imran Khan is facing a number of legal issues over his retention of gifts. This also led to his disqualification by the ECP.
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