Ex-Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has been sentenced to three years in jail on corruption charges, leading him to call for nationwide protests. Mr. Khan was found guilty of not disclosing
the money earned from selling gifts received during his time in office. He denies the charges and plans to appeal the verdict.
After the ruling, Mr. Khan was taken into custody from his residence in Lahore. In a pre-recorded video message posted on social media, he urged his supporters to take a stand against the ruling and fight for the future of their country and children.
The 70-year-old former cricketer, who was elected in 2018 but removed through a no-confidence vote last year after a dispute with Pakistan's powerful military, is facing over 100 cases, which he claims are politically motivated.
The government has denied any political motivation in Mr. Khan's arrest or disqualification, stating that accountability in law is essential. Saturday's verdict focused on charges related to incorrect declarations of gifts from foreign dignitaries and the proceeds from their alleged sale. The gifts were reported to be worth more than 140 million Pakistani rupees, including Rolex watches, a ring, and cuff links.
Judge Humayun Dilawar stated that Mr. Khan's dishonesty was beyond doubt. Following the ruling, police were instructed to arrest Mr. Khan immediately, and he was taken into custody within 15 minutes. His lawyer has criticized the trial, calling it a "kangaroo-type court" where the accused was not given a fair chance to defend himself.
Mr. Khan has been sent to Attock jail, located in Punjab province and known for its historical ties to the military. His party members have previously been held at the same facility. Despite protests in the past to prevent his arrest, Mr. Khan had managed to avoid custody until now.
However, this time, there were no significant mass protests following his arrest, and many of his supporters have become cautious in expressing their opinions due to the ongoing crackdown on his political party. Several vocal supporters have even deleted their previous comments on social media. Photo by Jawad Zakariya, Wikimedia commons.