ISLAMABAD: Rangers detained Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan from Islamabad High Court (IHC) on NAB warrant.
NAB arrested the PTI chairman before his IHC bail hearing in the Al-Qadir Trust case.
Rangers drove Imran Khan to NAB Rawalpindi.
Khan remarked, “If someone has a warrant, they should directly bring it to me,” before departing for court, suggesting he knew of his arrest hours earlier. My lawyer will accept the warrant. I’ll arrest myself.”
The former premier demanded a warrant but advised against theatrics.
“No case against me. I expect arrest. Khan stated he was ready for jail. The cricketer-turned-politician said the nation knew him for 50 years.
Khan’s spectacular arrest, in which paramilitary personnel broke many doors, jumped through damaged windows, and fought PTI supporters and attorneys, provoked nationwide protests.
IGP Islamabad Dr. Akbar Nasir Khan acknowledged the development and stated the situation was under control.
Paramilitary troops arrested the PTI chairman in the IHC’s biometric verification section, Geo News said. NAB officials had arrest warrants.
NAB chairman Lt Gen (retd) Nazir Ahmad Butt issued Khan’s warrants on May 1.
NAB said Khan booked under Section 9A of the National Accountability Ordinance 1999.
“The arrest ordered and implemented by the NAB,” the accountability watchdog stated, adding, “Rangers troops deployed for the action on the orders of the Ministry of the Interior”.
Despite Section 144 in the federal capital, the Rangers did not detain Khan
Rangers “tortured” Barrister Ali Gohar, Imran Khan’s counsel, told media that the Rangers “tortured” the party leader during arrest.
He said Imran Khan hit in the head and leg.
He and Ali Bukhari were accompanying the PTI chief during the arrest.
Advocate Gohar added that Rangers burst through the glass and entered the diary branch before ransacking the IHC office.
IHC notices
IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq called the Islamabad IGP and interior secretary “15 minutes” after Khan’s arrest.
He ordered the additional attorney general to appear in court in 15 minutes and find out who arrested him.
The chief justice said that if an inquiry needed, the prime minister and ministers will be punished.
“Tell us which case the arrest made?” Justice Farooq inquired.
The Islamabad advocate general then requested a 30-minute extension, but the court denied his motion and ordered him to appear in 15 minutes.
Dr. Khan then presented the NAB warrant to the IHC. He stated the anti-graft watchdog used law enforcement as needed.
Khan’s lawyer, Barrister Ali Gohar, told the court that security officers “tortured” lawyers and “struck on his head and injured leg” the PTI chairman.
Khwaja Haris, part of Khan’s legal team, said that bail petitions prevented court arrests. “Khan’s fundamental right cannot violated.”
Haris added that the PTI head learned about the NAB investigation via the press and prepared a bail application. He said the former premier had come to the court for biometric verification for the application.
Ali Bukhari, Faisal Chaudhry, and Naeem Haider Panjhota, Khan’s lawyers, also informed the court of the PTI chairman’s detention.
Khan’s arrest was legal, IHC CJ Farooq asked the extra attorney general. What if the legal system collapses? “This is systemic,” the judge said.
DG NAB and the anti-graft body’s prosecutor general ordered to appear in court in 30 minutes.
Government dismisses torture claims
Rana Sanaullah denied that the PTI leader tortured during his arrest.
“Imran Khan did not ensure his appearance despite several notices,” the PML-N leader tweeted. The NAB arrested him for treasury damage.
“No sort of torture was inflicted on him [Khan],” the interior minister stated on his official handle.
‘Abducted’ Imran Khan
The PTI called the detention of its leader a “abduction” and called on supporters and workers to demonstrate nationwide.
PTI protested in Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Lahore, Karachi, Gujranwala, Faisalabad, Multan, Peshawar, and Mardan.
Karachi protesters fought cops near Nursery. They stoned and burned police cars, tore down street lights, and destroyed a bus. Protesters reported police teargas shells.
Murree Road demonstrators also teargassed by police.
Six-member body to announce next move
PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi condemned the “illegal” detention of his party chairman. He called for everyone to protest.
PTI Secretary General Asad Umar criticised the arrest on Twitter and said a committee would decide next steps.
Pakistan’s top politician detained after high court attack. “The world sees that the country has no law,” he remarked.
Umar claimed Khan’s six-member team, led by Shah Mehmood Qureshi, will outline PTI’s strategy.
Murad Saeed, PTI leader, tweeted that Khan was mistreated and arrested. He called for protests against the PTI chief’s arrest, especially among young.
“Free Pakistan of these oppressors and false gods. Haqeeqi Azadi’s turn. He told them to show up.
Al-Qadir Trust case?
The former prime minister, his wife Bushra Bibi, and other PTI leaders are under NAB investigation for a property tycoon deal that reportedly cost the national exchequer 190 million pounds.
Khan and others reportedly altered Rs50 billion—190 million pounds at the time—sent by Britain’s National Crime Agency (NCA) to the government.
They are also accused of receiving 458 kanals of land at Mouza Bakrala, Sohawa, to create Al Qadir University.
