Former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan was arrested Saturday after a court in Islamabad sentenced him to three years in prison for his involvement in the Toshakhana case. Imran Khan is accused of illegally selling gifts from heads of state worth hundreds of millions of rupees.
Imran Khan was arrested for the second time in three months. Shortly after his arrest, a video was posted on Imran Khan's official X (formerly Twitter) account.
In a video recorded before his arrest, Imran Khan urged his supporters not to stay at home and continue to protest for their rights. Imran Khan said: “My Pakistanis, as soon as this message reaches you, I will be arrested and jailed. My only appeal to you is not to sit idly at home. The struggle I'm going through is not for me, it's for you. This struggle is for your generation. If you don't defend your rights, (but) live the life of a slave... Beware, slaves don't have a life of their own. Slaves are like ants on earth. They do not reach higher heights.
"This is a fight for your justice, your rights, and your freedom. Always remember that no one gives freedom on the plate. You keep protesting until you get your rights. And the greatest fundamental right. is to elect the government you choose by ballot,” Imran Khan can be heard saying in the video. Pakistan is expected to hold general elections in the coming months, with the current government's term ending on August 12.
The video was posted on social media with the caption:
"Message from the President, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf:
My arrest was expected so I recorded this message before my arrest. This is another step towards implementing the London plan, but I want my workers to stay calm, resolute, and strong. We do not bow to God Almighty.
Meanwhile, security has been tightened and a heavy police force has been deployed on all major roads and buildings in Lahore following Imran Khan's arrest.
WHY IS IMRAN KHAN Caught? A Pakistani court sentenced Imran Khan to three years in prison in the Toshakhana case. The court also banned Imran Khan from participating in active politics for five years.
Toshakhana is a department of the Pakistani government that stores gifts and other expensive items received by government officials. Imran Khan is accused of buying some valuable gifts and reselling them for an undeclared purpose.
According to data released by the Pakistani government, Imran Khan received a number of expensive gifts while in power, including five expensive wristwatches, including a Graff watch, worth $3, 8 million Pakistani rupees (PKR) - approximately 1.1 million rupees at current exchange rates. Imran Khan kept these gifts in October 2018 after paying a quarter of a million.
The Magistrates Court ruled on Saturday that Imran Khan had "knowingly provided false information" about gifts to the Election Commission of Pakistan and had engaged in corrupt conduct.
Sentencing Imran Khan to three years in prison, Additional District Judge Humayun Dilawar and Islamabad-based Session Judge also fined the former Pakistani prime minister Rs 100,000, adding that the 70-year-old leader would face jail time. an additional six months in prison if the fine is not paid.
