Imran Khan, Pakistan’s former prime minister, has been arrested after he was sentenced to three years in prison for illegally selling state gifts, his lawyer said.
Police were seen surrounding his home in the eastern city of Lahore on Saturday after the verdict was released.
The 70-year-old former cricketer was sentenced after he was found guilty of unlawfully selling state gifts while he was prime minister between 2018 and 2022 following an inquiry conducted by the election commission.
He was accused of misusing his position to buy and sell gifts received during visits abroad worth more than 140 million Pakistani rupees ($635,000).
“Police have arrested Imran Khan from his residence,” Mr Khan’s lawyer Intezar Panjotha said. “We are filing a
petition against the decision in (the) high court.”
Lahore’s Police Chief Bilal Siddique Kamiana confirmed the arrest and said Mr Khan was being transferred to the capital, Islamabad.
Mr Khan has denied any wrongdoing and his political party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) said in a statement another appeal has already been filed to the country’s supreme court.
Legal experts say a conviction in the case could end his chances of taking part in the national elections that have to be held before November.
Since he was ousted from power in a no-confidence vote in April last year, Mr Khan has been hit with more than 150 legal cases, including allegations of corruption, terrorism, and inciting violence over deadly protests that saw his followers attack government and military property across the country in May.
The action was sparked by the popular opposition leader’s arrest on 9 May on corruption charges.
He was released on 12 May following a ruling of the country’s Supreme Court.
Days after he was granted bail, Mr Khan told Sky News that Pakistan’s government is “petrified of elections” and fears being “wiped out” by his party at the polls.
