The police have surrounded the home of Imran Khan in Lahore.
The police in Pakistan surrounded former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s home in Lahore forward of his doable arrest within the Toshakhana case. A whole lot of Mr Khan’s supporters gathered exterior the home after a police group arrived from Islamabad to arrest him on a courtroom order, based on information company Reuters. If he’s arrested, it will likely be a giant blow for his celebration, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). Mr Khan faces 37 instances throughout Pakistan, together with these filed by the Federal Investigation Company (FIA).
What’s the Toshakhana case?
A non-bailable warrant has been issued towards Mr Khan, 70, for concealing, in his belongings declarations, particulars of the presents he retained from the Toshakhana – the treasury the place presents handed to authorities officers from overseas officers are stored. The case is named the Toshakhana reference case.
Mr Khan is accused of incomes $36 million from promoting three watches gifted to him. He allegedly by no means deposited some presents within the treasury, violating the rule as a Prime Minister in Pakistan is allowed to retain the presents solely after paying a certain quantity.
The Islamabad Excessive Court docket had final week suspended the arrest warrant issued by a district and periods courtroom towards the PTI chairman until March 13.
Different instances towards Imran Khan
In January this 12 months, Pakistan’s Election Fee issued bailable arrest warrants towards Mr Khan and different prime leaders of his celebration in a contempt case. The case relies on statements issued by prime PTI leaders towards the ballot physique and Chief Election Commissioner Sikander Sultan Raja.
The election watchdog had issued notices towards them in August and September final 12 months within the train of its powers of contempt after the PTI leaders repeatedly bashed the fee and Raja over what they declare is their partisan coverage and their alleged favouring of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).
He’s additionally in bother for failing to attend the courtroom listening to of a case linked to protests exterior the election fee. PTI staff staged a protest after Mr Khan was disqualified by the Election Fee of Pakistan (ECP) within the prohibited funding case final 12 months.
The investigation within the case began in October final 12 months, when an FIR was registered towards the previous Pakistan PM for allegedly receiving prohibited overseas funding.
Based on Daybreak, Wooton Cricket Restricted proprietor Arif Masood Naqvi transferred “ill-gotten” cash to one of many accounts of Mr Khan’s celebration. He’s accused of violating the provisions of Pakistan’s Overseas Change Act by receiving suspicious monetary transfers.
Mr Khan is dealing with one other arrest warrant for allegedly threatening a feminine decide Zeba Chaudhry. The outburst got here after the decide authorized the remand of Mr Kahn’s aide, Shahbaz Gill.
At a rally in October 2022, fees underneath Pakistan’s anti-terrorism act have been slapped towards the PTI chief for his remarks at a rally the place he threatened to file instances towards his political opponents and prime police officers. Nevertheless, the stringent fees have been dropped after the Islamabad excessive courtroom intervened.
In August final 12 months, the cricketer-turned-politician was accused of violating Part 144 by organising a rally in Pakistan’s capital Islamabad.
Pakistan’s former data and broadcasting minister earlier launched a litigation standing report, which mentioned that Mr Khan himself is a petitioner in 19 instances which were filed towards authorities departments and people.
The report additionally mentioned that 21 FIRs are registered towards the previous PM out of which 11 have been registered on a single day – Could 25, 2022 – whereas eight have been registered on Could 26. The remaining three FIRs have been registered on August 8.
Mr Khan has filed two instances towards the Election Fee of Pakistan whereas two are registered towards him within the Islamabad Excessive Court docket, based on information company ANI.
