Pakistan court orders non-bailable arrest of Imran Khan in Toshakhana case

Imran Khan is placed under non-bailable arrest by a Pakistani court in the Toshakhana case.

       

In the midst of a seething political crisis, a Pakistani court on Tuesday issued an arrest warrant for former prime minister Imran Khan. The cricket player-turned-politician urged his followers to continue protesting. The court in the nation's capital, Islamabad, which issued the arrest warrant for the former premier, claimed Khan had skipped a hearing about allegations of selling state gifts and hiding his assets.

During a day of political drama in Pakistan, Judge Zafar Iqbal's decision came after three other courts determined Khan was exempt from arrest on separate counts relating to claims of terrorism, attempted murder of a rival politician, and corruption.

Imran Khan, 70, was met by thousands of supporters and strict security as he made after getting wounded in the leg during a protest march in November, made an appearance in Islamabad. The attack, which garnered widespread outrage, left one of Khan's supporters dead and twelve others wounded.

Shahbaz Sharif's administration has been in power for several months, but Khan has been spearheading demonstrations asking for early elections to topple it. Sharif has stated that elections will take place later this year when Parliament's five-year term ends.

There was "a major threat to the security of Imran Khan and hundreds of people," according to Fawad Chaudhry, a senior member of Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party, as he went around the capital. He claimed Khan was being escorted between courts on "false trials."

Khan lost his position as premier in April.by a vote of no confidence by the legislature. Without offering any supporting information, he has charged Sharif with working with the US to remove him from office.

Khan's legal issues have only gotten worse. According to allegations that Khan sold state gifts and hid assets while premier, an electoral tribunal barred Khan from holding public office in October. He lost his position in the National Assembly, Pakistan's lower house of parliament.

Khan has contested his exclusion and asserted his innocence.

The most recent developments come after Islamabad police announced they had detained former army general and associate of Khan, Amjad Shoaib, on suspicion of inciting members of the public and government workers against national institutions.