'How a country becomes a banana republic,' says ex-Pakistan Imran Khan as police arrive at his home to arrest him
Earlier this month, an Islamabad sessions court issued non-bailable arrest warrants against the PTI chief over his persistent absences from hearings in the Toshakhana case
Pakistan's former prime minister Imran Khan talk with media representatives at a hospital in Lahore on November 4, 2022, a day after an assassination attempt on him during his long march near Wazirabad. AFP
Police have reached former Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan’s residence in Islamabad to arrest him in connection with the Toshakhana case.
Taking to Twitter, the Islamabad Police said the operation is being conducted along with the Lahore Police.
Earlier this month, an Islamabad sessions court issued non-bailable arrest warrants against the PTI chief over his persistent absences from hearings.
Meanwhile reacting to his imminent arrest, Khan said “this is how a country becomes a banana republic.”
What future can a country have when crooks are thrust as rulers upon it? SS was about to be convicted by NAB for Rs 8 bn money laundering & by FIA for another Rs 16 bn corruption when he was rescued by Gen Bajwa who kept getting NAB cases trial postponed. While under trial he was
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) March 5, 2023
According to Dawn, just hours before the warrants were issued, Khan secured bail in two other cases, pertaining to prohibited funding and terrorism, as he appeared before the courts at Islamabad’s judicial complex accompanied by a large number of party workers.
Khan was set to be indicted in the Toshakhana case last week, but his lawyer requested the court that he be exempted from the hearing because he had to appear in several other courts. His indictment was deferred twice before, Dawn reported.
What is the Toshakhana case?
In a probe, Pakistan’s anti-corruption body the National Accountability Bureau found that Khan during his tenure as PM retained some state gifts presented to him by various foreign dignitaries, an ANI report said.
On 19 November 2022, the NAB had taken notice of the alleged non-disclosure of the actual value of gifts received by the former prime minister, his wife, and other cabinet members.
Sources privy to the matter said that there was a discrepancy between the actual value of the gifts received by the former prime minister and the sale, ANI reported.
With inputs from agencies
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