PTI Chairman Imran Khan, shortly after an Islamabad trial court declared him guilty of “corrupt practices” in the Toshakhana case, was arrested by Punjab police on Saturday afternoon from his Zaman Park residence in Lahore.
PTI’s Punjab Chapter confirmed the reports with a tweet: “Imran Khan is being moved to Kot Lakhpat Jail.”
The court sentenced Imran — who was absent from court — to three years in prison and imposed a fine of Rs100,000 on him while hearing the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) criminal complaint against the PTI chief for concealing details of Toshakhana gifts.
His lawyers were also not present.
“The court finds its more than convincing that the complainant (ECP) had provided confidence-inspiring, well-knitted and corroborated evidence, and so the charge against the accused has successfully been proven that the accused has committed offence of corrupt practices by making and publishing false statements/declaration in respect of assets acquired by way of gifts from Toshakhana and disposed of during years 2018-2019 and 2019-2020,”
Additional District and Sessions Judge (ADSJ) Humayun Dilawar said in a short order, a copy of which is available with Dawn.com.
The judge said that Imran also provided an “incorrect declaration” in the Form-B — the statement of assets and liabilities — submitted to the ECP for the year 2020-2021.
“He has been found guilty of corrupt practices by hiding the benefits he acquired from the national exchequer willfully and intentionally. He cheated while providing information of gifts he obtained from Toshakhana which later proved to be false and inaccurate. His dishonesty has been established beyond doubt,” the court order added.
It further said that the PTI chief was convicted under Section 174 (Offence of corrupt practices) of the Election Act and sentenced to three years in prison.
ADSJ Dilawar also directed that a copy of the order, along with the arrest warrant, should be sent to the Islamabad police chief for execution.
During the hearing today — which commenced at 8:30am — the judge repeatedly expressed displeasure over the absence of Imran’s lawyers. He, however, gave multiple chances to the defence counsel to appear in court. Finally, at 12:30pm, ASDJ Dilawar announced the verdict.
Roughly 29 minutes later, reports of Imran’s arrest surfaced.
Unlike previous instances, where Zaman Park was usually guarded by party supporters, Imran was taken into custody today without any major resistance.
The PTI also confirmed this in a tweet, saying that the party chief didn’t resist the arrest. It claimed that the Lahore police arrived at Imran’s residence to “kidnap” him even before the written verdict of the trial court was released.
Talking about the case, it alleged that “every process from the beginning of the case to the trial and [Imran’s] abduction is illegal”.
The PTI chairman’s arrest today comes approximately three months after his first arrest on May 9 when he was detained in Islamabad from the high court’s premises in the Al-Qadir Trust case.
Imran’s arrest that day had resulted in widespread violence and saw important military installations come under attack, on the basis of which the state had launched a severe crackdown against his party.
While Imran was released the next day, thousands of PTI workers and almost the entire top-tier leadership was rounded up.
What followed was a large number of party leaders holding press conferences, condemning the May 9 riots — some also called out Imran and his politics — and disassociating themselves with the PTI.
The party’s dismantlement has continued since then, barring some senior PTI leaders, most of whom are still behind bars.
While the mass exodus as well as a near-complete blackout of Imran on local media has left the PTI’s future uncertain in the upcoming polls, it also gave birth to a new home for most PTI deserters, Istehkam-i-Pakistan Party (IPP), hosted by Jahangir Khan Tareen.
Following the verdict, Imran’s lawyer Barrister Gohar Khan expressed his disappointment and deemed it
“a murder of justice”.
“I was very disappointed and disheartened,” he told.
“We weren’t even given a chance. We weren’t even allowed to cross [question], to say anything in defence or conduct our arguments. I haven’t seen this kind of injustice before.”
PTI leader Asad Umar, who left his party position following May 9 riots but is still part of the party, said:
“Today’s decision does not even meet the basic principle of law that the serving of justice should be seen".
“This decision will not stand in a higher court. And meaningful decisions about politicians are made in the hearts of the people, not in the courts,” he added.