Former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan arrested by NAB and taken into custody by Rangers from the premises of Islamabad High Court (IHC) in the Al-Qadir Trust Case.
The PTI chief was taken into custody in the Al-Qadir Trust case by Rangers from Islamabad High Court where the former premier had gone to seek bail in multiple FIRs registered against him.
The former prime minister was taken in black Vigo and shifted to NAB office Rawalpindi by the law enforcement agency.
Confirming the arrest, Inspector General of Police, (IGP) Islamabad Dr Akbar Nasir Khan said that the situation is under control.
According to reports, the PTI chairman was going for biometric at the IHC when he was taken into custody. The NAB officials had arrest warrants.
PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry also confirmed the development.
In a tweet, Fawad alleged that Imran had been “abducted” from the court premises while a score of lawyers and general people had been “tortured”.
As Imran Khan taken into custody, Islamabad High Court Chief Justice Aamer Farooq took notice and summoned the Islamabad IG and the interior secretary within “15 minutes”.
He also directed the additional attorney general to appear before the court in 15 minutes and instructed him to immediately find out who was behind the arrest.
“If an inquiry has to be conducted, action will also be taken against the prime minister and ministers,” the chief justice said.
Justice Farooq further asked: “Tell us in which case the arrest was made?”
The Islamabad advocate general then requested that the court extend the time of 15 minutes to half an hour; however, the request was rejected and he was ordered to appear in 15 minutes.
Imran Khan Torture
Imran Khan’s lawyer Barrister Ali Gohar told media that the Rangers personnel “tortured” the party chairman during the arrest.
“Imran Khan was hit on the head and one ranger personnel was hitting at his injured leg,” he claimed. He added that he and Ali Bukhari were present with the PTI chief at the time of the arrest.
“Rangers broke through the glass and entered the diary branch,” Advocate Gohar further said, adding the Rangers personnel broke IHC’s main gate before ransacking the IHC office.
Interior Minister Statement
Taking to Twitter, Federal Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah said that Imran had failed to appear before the court despite being issued several notices to him in the inquiry.
“The arrest has been conducted by the National Accountability Bureau for causing losses to the national treasury,” he said.
Imran Khan’s warrants were issued on May 1 by NAB chairman Lt Gen (retd) Nazir Ahmad Butt.
NAB in a statement said Khan was booked under Section 9A of the National Accountability Ordinance 1999.
“The arrest was ordered and implemented by the NAB,” the accountability watchdog said in a statement, adding, “Rangers troops were deployed for the action on the orders of the Ministry of the Interior”.
Protests Call across the country
After PTI Chairman Imran Khan arrest Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has announced protests across the country. PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi disapproved of his party chief’s arrest. “The entire nation should immediately take to the streets,” he said asking everyone to come out in protest.
Taking to Twitter, PTI Secretary General Asad Umar condemned the arrest and announced that a committee will announce the next plan of action.
“Pakistan’s biggest political leader arrested after attack on the high court. The whole world is shown that there is no law left in the country,” he said.
Umar said that the party’s six-member committee, formed by Khan and headed by Shah Mehmood Qureshi, will announce PTI’s plan of action.
PTI leader Murad Saeed, in an audio message via PTI’s official Twitter account, claimed that Khan has been tortured and arrested. He asked supporters, particularly youth, to step out to protest against the PTI chief’s arrest.
“It’s time free Pakistan from these oppressors and false gods. It’s time for Haqeeqi Azadi. Come out to the places you’ve been asked to arrive at,” he said.
Medical board formed
A seven-member medical board has been formed at the Poly Clinic in Islamabad for the medical examination of former prime minister.
The seven-member medical board, which includes experts in medicine, orthopedics, cardiology, general surgery, and pathology, has been formed under the leadership of Dr. Fareed Allah Shah, while Dr. Imtiaz Ahmed has also been included from the C.M.O. Poly Clinic.
The medical examination of Imran Khan will be held at NAB Rawalpindi Office.
It should be noted that NAB Rawalpindi had contacted the hospital administration of Poly Clinic to request a medical examination for PTI chief Imran Khan.
Al-Qadir Trust case
The Ex-Premier, along with his wife Bushra Bibi and other PTI leaders, are facing a NAB inquiry related to a settlement between the PTI government and a property tycoon, which reportedly caused a loss of 190 million pounds to the national exchequer.
As per the charges, the Imran Khan and others accused allegedly adjusted Rs50 billion — 190 million pounds at the time — sent by Britain’s National Crime Agency (NCA) to the government.
They are also accused of getting undue benefit in the form of over 458 kanals of land at Mouza Bakrala, Sohawa, to establish Al Qadir University.
