On May 9, 2023, Pakistani Rangers detained former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan outside the Islamabad High Court. Faisal Chaudhry, an attorney for the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), verified the news. After testifying in the Al-Qadir Trust case, where it is alleged that a private real estate firm, Bahria Town, gave land worth 530 million Pakistani rupees to the Al-Qadir Trust, owned by Khan and his wife, the PTI chairman was arrested. On May 1st, 2023, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) issued a warrant for Khan’s arrest.
Imran Khan has been detained in connection with the Qadir Trust case, according to a statement issued by the Islamabad Police. Conditions are typical. Section 144 is in effect, and violations will result in action, according to the police, who cited IG Islamabad. Khan’s automobile was encircled by police, but no one was physically harmed. However, according to Barrister Gohar Khan, who asserted to have witnessed the arrest, Khan was beaten in the leg and subjected to torture, and the Rangers threw his wheelchair while he was being taken into custody.
The Islamabad police chief and the secretary of the interior ministry were ordered to appear before the court within 15 minutes to explain why and which charge the arrest had been made after the court earlier took cognizance of Khan’s arrest. In the event that the head of the Islamabad police department failed to show up in court, Chief Justice Aamer Farooq threatened to summon Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
Imran Khan has been at conflict with the Pakistani Army and has been accused of corruption in the Toshakhana case. The former Pakistani prime minister has made numerous accusations, including one of corruption, against Pakistani army personnel. Khan claimed that an army officer was complicit in the attempt on his life. Imran Khan was criticised by the Pakistan Army yesterday for allegedly making highly reckless and unfounded accusations against a serving senior military official without any supporting documentation.
Khan was apprehended days after the former prime minister eluded multiple failed police attempts to apprehend him in the past, including a police raid at his home in Lahore’s Zaman Park.