(TotalConservative.com) – Former Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan was placed under arrest on Saturday, August 5th after a court ordered a three-year prison sentence for corruption, threatening any future political ambitions.
Khan was removed from power in a no-confidence vote in April 2022 but was still incredibly popular with a segment of the population. He was exposed as having concealed assets from public scrutiny after liquidating state gifts. The former cricket star was taken into custody at his home in Lahore, according to a senior police official.
There was an intense desire to put the popular and divisive Khan behind bars in advance of this year’s general election. Khan is also known for rallying large crowds and could be seen as a potential rival to the ruling coalition, which includes the support of Pakistan’s military leadership.
Khan joins a long line of past Pakistani leaders who were arrested or experienced military interference in their administrations and public policy. Khan has been charged with over 150 different legal cases since he was ousted from office in 2022. The allegations include corruption, terrorism, and incitement of violence – some of his followers assaulted government and military personnel across the country after protests against his arrest became riots.
If upheld, the prison sentence would prevent Khan from running in the next election. His party plans to challenge any attempts to bar him from running.
Information Minister Maryam Aurangzeb suggested Khan’s arrest was purely due to the asset concealment charges and had nothing to do with the upcoming elections. She said that he wasted time by delaying court proceedings and that he was “proven guilty” in a court of law.
Khan’s party spokesman, Rauf Hasan called the trial the “worst in history” and suggested justice was murdered in the courtroom. A group of lawyers chanted slogans condemning his arrest and conviction outside his home in Zaman Park. Rivals gave out sweets in another part of the same town to celebrate.
Khan is the seventh former Pakistani Prime Minister to be arrested and charged with crimes.
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