The former Prime Minister and captain of Pakistan’s cricket team, Imran Khan, was on his way to an Islamabad court for a hearing in a corruption case when the police entered his home in Lahore. Imran Khan’s wife, Bushra Begum, was present at the time when the Pakistani police all of a sudden broke into his home.
Police were forced to break down Khan’s residence’s gate on Saturday after encountering opposition from PTI supporters, as seen in footage from Lahore. His party tweeted a picture of cops hitting the supporters with batons.
To handle the situation and have control over it, Pakistani police fired water cannons and tear gas at the crowd. The protesters, in reaction, assaulted the police with stones and shattered bottles. Also, the police made an effort to remove the improvised tents that had just appeared near Khan’s home.Â
Image Source: The Diplomat
What was the reaction of Imran Khan after this?
Imran Khan said that Pakistan’s government had planned his arrest and that it was a part of the “London plot” to take down all the cases against Nawaz Sharif in a video message posted on social media by his party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).
In addition, Imran Khan urged his followers to “stand up” for their rights and carry on the fight even if he was murdered or taken into custody.
Additionally, the former Pakistani prime minister alleged that an attempt was made on his life because the PTI is expected to win the country’s provincial elections and because the government was attempting to imprison him.
The Pakistan Police have made repeated unsuccessful attempts to apprehend Imran Khan, the head of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and a former cricketer.
Why do the Pakistani police want to arrest Imran Khan?
Imran Khan did not appear in the court cases that were linked to the Toshakhana reference, which is one of the major reasons why Pakistani police want him to be arrested. He has also missed the three indictment hearings in the case.
He is also being accused of keeping information about the presents he withholds from the Toshakhana, a storage facility for gifts given to government officials by foreign dignitaries, to himself. Khan eluded arrest last week as well, when a police team showed up at his home in Zaman Park to make the arrest.
What is Imran Khan accused of?
The former Prime Minister, Imran Khan, after losing his power and position last year, has been accused of dozens and dozens of offenses and charges, some of which carry the threat of arrest. According to Imran Khan, around the nation, at least 85 cases have been brought against him.
Charges of corruption, terrorism, court disobedience, riots, and even blasphemy have been brought against the 70-year-old former cricketer-turned-politician.
Imran Khan faced quick legal action when he hid the fact that he had received gifts from foreign countries while he was in power and serving Pakistan as its Prime Minister. To complete his final financial statements for the election commission, he has also been charged with selling those gifts to increase his wealth. The High Court of Islamabad issued an arrest order for him in the case on March 7, 2024. To avoid being arrested, the former premier instead submitted a petition to the same court, asking for the warrant to be revoked.
Imran Khan was then requested by the court to show up on the 13th of March. Despite avoiding court appearances due to threats to his life, the opposition lawmaker did not appear. The following day, an enraged court issued a non-bailable warrant against Khan, sparking two days of unrest in Lahore as police clashed with hundreds of the politician’s followers outside his home to apprehend him.
Khan’s request to have the summons to appear in court suspended was thrown out by an Islamabad trial court on Thursday.
