Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan was arrested on Tuesday from outside the Islamabad High Court, local media reported. His party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) claimed Imran Khan was pushed by Pakistani Rangers while being arrested and he was injured. PTI Vice President Fawad Chaudhry alleged in a tweet that Khan was abducted from the court premises, and scores of lawyers and people were tortured. “Imran Khan has been whisked away by unknown people to an unknown location, CJ Islamabad High Court has ordered Secy Interior and IG police to appear within 15 min in the court,” he added in his tweet. PTI lawyer Faisal Chaudhry confirmed the development. PTI leader Musarrat Cheema, in a video message on Twitter, said: “They are torturing Imran Khan right now… they are beating Khan sahib. They have done something with Khan sahib.”
He was arrested by the Rangers when he was present at the Islamabad High Court for two hearings on Tuesday afternoon. A Reuters witness said shortly after Khan entered the gate of the Islamabad High Court, contingents of paramilitary forces and armoured personnel carriers entered after him. The gate was blocked by the armoured vehicles while Khan was whisked away shortly after under heavy security, the witness told the news agency.
They have badly pushed injured Imran Khan. Pakistan’s people, this is the time to save your country. You won’t get any other opportunity. pic.twitter.com/Glo5cmvksd
— PTI (@PTIofficial) May 9, 2023
PTI leaders said Islamabad High Court Chief Justice Aamer Farooq has asked the Islamabad police chief, the interior ministry secretary, and the additional attorney general to appear before the court within 15 minutes, as reported by the Dawn and has asked them to tell the court why Khan was arrested. “Come to court and tell us why has Imran been arrested and in which case,” Justice Farooq said as reported by the publication.
The arrest warrant of Imran Khan was issued by NAB Rawalpindi on May 1st and has been executed by Rangers in Islamabad today.
Pakistan journalist Hamid Mir tweeted: “Just few moments before the arrest Imran Khan was waiting for biometrics in Islamabad High Court. His lawyer Barristor Gohar Khan told me that Rangers arrested Khan during the biometrics process. Gohar claimed that Rangers pushed him first and then arrested Khan very violently.”
Just few moments before the arrest @ImranKhanPTI was waiting for biometrics in Islamabad High Court. His lawyer Barristor Gohar Khan told me that Rangers arrested Khan during the biometrics process. Gohar claimed that Rangers pushed him first and then arrested Khan very violently pic.twitter.com/lC5GdsapWT
— Hamid Mir (@HamidMirPAK) May 9, 2023