On Sunday (March 5), the Islamabad police tried to arrest former Pakistani High Minister Imran Khan for ignoring court docket summons on 3 other events in connection to the notorious Toshakhana corruption case.
The police officers reached the place of abode of the previous PM, which is situated at Zaman Park in Lahore, however may just no longer to find him. Reportedly, Khan used to be ‘no longer to be had’ when the Superintendent of Police (SP) entered his room.
The Islamabad police stated that they have been handiest implementing the court docket’s orders and that regulation used to be equivalent for all in Pakistan. The police officers additionally warned the political supporters of Imran Khan of arrest in the event that they attempted to impede them from wearing out their responsibility.
اسلام آباد پولیس اپنی حفاظت میں عمران خان کو اسلام آباد منتقل کرے گی۔ قانون سب کے لیے برابر ہے۔
2/2#ICTP
— Islamabad Police (@ICT_Police) March 5, 2023
The Islamabad police sought assist from the Lahore police to facilitate the arrest of Imran Khan. Islamabad Inspector Basic of Police (IGP) Akbar Nasir stated, “Police’s paintings is to put into effect court docket orders and stay the regulation and order state of affairs intact. We can take a look at our best possible that he comes with us.”
On February 28 this 12 months, the Further District and Periods court docket (Islamabad) issued a non-bailable arrest warrant in opposition to Khan for lacking in-person appearances 3 times within the toshakhana case.
Pass judgement on Zafar Iqbal had ordered, “The accused is creating a pick out and select for courts and instances and this example isn’t integrated in his precedence. The accused be summoned via a non-bailable warrant of arrest for March 7.”
made PM. He has since proceeded to choose heads of the ones establishments investigating his instances – first FIA & now NAB – merely to get his identify completely cleared in Rs 16 bn corruption & Rs 8 bn cash laundering instances in opposition to him. That is how a rustic turns into a banana republic.
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) March 5, 2023
Previous within the day, Imran Khan dubbed Pakistan a ‘banana republic.’ Concentrated on PM Shehbaz Sharif, he tweeted, “What long term can a rustic have when crooks are thrust as rulers upon it? SS used to be about to be convicted by way of NAB for Rs 8 bn cash laundering & by way of FIA for every other Rs 16 bn corruption when he used to be rescued by way of Gen Bajwa who saved getting NAB instances trial postponed.”
“Whilst below trial he used to be made PM. He has since proceeded to choose heads of the ones establishments investigating his instances – first FIA & now NAB – merely to get his identify completely cleared in Rs 16 bn corruption & Rs 8 bn cash laundering instances in opposition to him. That is how a rustic turns into a banana republic,” he added.
In the meantime, PTI leaders similar to Fawad Chaudhry had threatened countrywide protests and alleged that the arrest warrant in opposition to Imran Khan used to be a part of a conspiracy to take him out. “In the event that they go the purple line, there can be a protest that Pakistan hasn’t ever noticed prior to,” Chaudhry warned.
In the meantime, the Pakistani federal executive had distanced itself from the talk and claimed that the previous PM used to be being arrested no longer on its directives however of the court docket.
The Background of the Case
In Would possibly 2022, the previous Pakistani High Minister used to be accused of protecting presents, won by way of the Place of business of the High Minister from different international locations, both free of charge or at throwaway costs.
As in keeping with a record revealed by way of The Specific Tribune, Khan and his spouse Bushra Bibi retained 112 valuables that have been proficient to the PM’s Place of business between August 2018 and December 2021. The duo got 52 of the pieces price PKR 800200 with out ‘paying a unmarried penny’.
The previous Pakistani High Minister retained the remainder 60 valuables price over PKR 141 million by way of paying a complete of PKR 38.17 million. The Specific Tribune reported {that a} PKR 85 million Graff wristwatch proficient by way of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman used to be retained by way of Khan for a sum of PKR 20 million.
But even so the non-declaration of Toshakhana presents in tax filings and the company get to the bottom of to withhold data, Imran Khan has been accused of promoting valuables that he won as High Minister.
Tax returns and income of Imran Khan, graphic by means of Truth Focal point
He additionally paid simply PKR 754,000 for a Rolex watch valued at PKR 3.8 million. The main points of all presents won by way of Imran Khan, all through his tenure because the High Minister, have been maintained by way of a division of the Cupboard Department referred to as Toshakhana.
Imran Khan has alternatively defended his resolution to retain valuables from Toshakhana by way of claiming “Mera Tohfa, Meri Marzi (My presents, my selection).” He claimed that he had paid 50% of the worth of the presents.
In October 2022, he used to be disqualified by way of the Election Fee of Pakistan over the Toshakhana controversy. It should be discussed that the Islamabad Prime Courtroom had previous famous that presents won by way of the Place of business of the High Minister can’t be retained by way of him after vacating place of work.