Khan’s warrants were issued on May 1 by NAB chairman Lt Gen (retd) Nazir Ahmad Butt.
PTI chief Imran Khan arrested in Al-Qadir Trust case: NAB. Country’s restive politics is likely in for a flare-up as Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan was arrested by Rangers personnel from Islamabad High Court (IHC) — acting on National Accountability Bureau’s (NAB) warrant.
The chairman was arrested as part of the NAB’s investigation in the Al-Qadir Trust case ahead of his appearance before the IHC to seek bail in multiple FIRs registered against him.
Rangers personnel driving a black Toyota Hilux Vigo took Imran Khan away to NAB Rawalpindi.
It appears Khan got the wind of his arrest hours earlier as before leaving for the court the PTI chief said: “If someone has a warrant, they should directly bring it to me. Bring the warrant, my lawyer will be there. I’m ready to go to the jail myself.”
The former premier, while demanding that he be approached through a warrant, urged against staging any drama.
“There is no case against me. I’m mentally prepared to be arrested. If I have to go to jail, I’m ready,” Khan said. The cricketer-turned-politician said that the nation knows him for the last 50 years.
Khan’s dramatic arrest, in which paramilitary troops had to break several doors, jump through smashed windows, and scuffle with PTI supporters and lawyers to reach the legally beleaguered firebrand politician, has sparked protests across the country.
Inspector General of Police, (IGP) Islamabad Dr Akbar Nasir Khan confirmed the development and said that the situation was under control.
According to a private news channel, the PTI chairman was in the IHC’s biometric verification department when he was nabbed by battle-hardened paramilitary men. The NAB officials had arrest warrants.
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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”.
The statement made it clear that the Rangers did not detain Imran Khan, while Section 144 was already imposed in the federal capital.
Exclusive video when Imran Khan was arrested
Rangers ‘tortured’ Imran Khan
Khan’s lawyer Barrister Ali Gohar told media personnel that the Rangers personnel “tortured” the party chairman during the arrest.
“Imran Khan was hit on the head and 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.
IHC takes notice
Following Khan’s arrest, IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq took notice of the matter, 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 ‘abducted’
Meanwhile, the PTI has condemned the arrest of the party chairman terming it an “abduction” by the law enforcement agency and urged the supporters and workers to stage protests across the country.
Six-member body to announce next move
Reacting to the “illegal” move, 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.
What is Al-Qadir Trust case?
The former prime minister, 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 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.
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