Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has been arrested from his Lahore residence and shifted to Kot Lakhpat jail after he was disqualified and sentenced to three years in prison for concealing and selling gifts he received from foreign dignitaries during his tenure.
The Islamabad High Court delivered its verdict on Saturday after finding him guilty of violating the Toshakhana rules and the Election Commission of Pakistan’s code of conduct.
Toshakhana is a department that stores and manages gifts and other valuable items that are presented to Pakistani officials by foreign leaders and guests. According to its regulations, any official who receives such gifts must report them to the Cabinet Division and deposit them in the Toshakhana. The official can then buy back the gift at a nominal price, or donate it to the state or a charity.
However, Imran Khan failed to disclose the details of the gifts he received from various countries, including China, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Qatar, between 2018 and 2022. He also allegedly sold some of the gifts in the market without submitting them to the Toshakhana, and used the proceeds for personal gain.
The Toshakhana case was filed against Imran Khan in August 2022 by members of the opposition, who accused him of dishonesty, corruption, and misuse of power. The ECP initiated an inquiry and disqualified him from holding public office for five years in October 2022. Imran Khan challenged the ECP’s decision in the IHC, but his appeal was dismissed.
The court also ordered Imran Khan to pay a fine of Rs 1 lakh and surrender all the gifts he had retained or sold. The court said that Imran Khan had breached the trust of the people and tarnished the image of Pakistan in the international arena.
Imran Khan’s lawyers said that they would appeal against the verdict in the Supreme Court. They claimed that Imran Khan had obtained the gifts legally and used them for public welfare and development projects. They also alleged that the case was politically motivated and aimed at undermining Imran Khan’s popularity and achievements.
The court also ordered Imran Khan to pay a fine of Rs 1 lakh and surrender all the gifts he had retained or sold. The court said that Imran Khan had breached the trust of the people and tarnished the image of Pakistan in the international arena.
Imran Khan’s lawyers said that they would appeal against the verdict in the Supreme Court. They claimed that Imran Khan had obtained the gifts legally and used them for public welfare and development projects. They also alleged that the case was politically motivated and aimed at undermining Imran Khan’s popularity and achievements.
Imran Khan’s supporters staged protests outside the court and across the country, demanding his release and calling for fresh elections. They chanted slogans against the PDM, the ECP, and the judiciary, and accused them of conspiring against Imran Khan. They also expressed their solidarity with Imran Khan and vowed to continue their struggle for justice and democracy.