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PTI’S RED LINE CROSSED AS RANGERS ARREST IMRAN FROM IHC PREMISES Wednesday, 10 May, 2023 I 19 Shawwal, 1444
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IGP CONFIRMS FORMER PREMIER ARRESTED IN AL-QADIR TRUST CASE FILED BY NAB
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IMRAN WAS TORTURED, PEPPER SPRAYED BEFORE ARREST, CLAIMS ADVOCATE GOHAR
ISLAMABAD
ISLAMABAD In shocking turn of events on Tuesday, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan was arrested by Rangers officials from the Islamabad Judicial Complex on Tuesday, confirmed IG Islamabad. The former premier was arrested in the Al-Qadir Trust case, added the federal capital’s top cop. “Situation is normal. Section 144 is in place and violations will result in police action,” said IG Islamabad. Islamabad High Court (IHC) CJ Aamer Farooq has taken notice of the incident and has summoned IG Islamabad, the secretary interior and additional attorney general. Justice Farooq directed to inform the court immediately about who was behind the arrest and in what case had the PTI chief been arrested in. The judge maintained that action will be taken, “even if it has to be
taken against ministers”. According to the IG Islamabad, Imran has been taken to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) office in Rawalpindi. Imran was tortured, hit in head and injured leg, pepper sprayed before arrest, Advocate Gohar said. IHC CJ summons Islamabad police chief, the interior ministry secretary and the additional attorney general to explain Imran’s arrest. The development comes on the heels of the military’s rejection of accusations Imran made against DG-C Maj Gen Faisal Naseer. Imran had accused the officer of involvement in the assassination attempt against him in Wazirabad. Imran doubled down on the allegations in a video message today. The former premier’s detention also follows several unsuccessful attempts, including a police raid at his residence in Lahore’s
The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday termed arrest of former premier and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan from the court’s premises ‘legal’ and issued contempt court notices to Interior Secretary and IG Islamabad Police. The high court also issued instructions to the registrar to lodge an FIR, and submit a report on the inquiry by May 16. Islamabad High Court (IHC) Chief Justice Aamer Farooq issued the verdict reserved earlier on a petition challenging Imran Khan’s arrest. Director General (DG) National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and the prosecutor general appeared before the high court. During hearing, the NAB officials informed the court that they had written a Zaman Park, to arrest him which he had managed to evade. Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah said that the deposed premier did not appear in court despite notices for the case hearing of the land transfer of Al-Qadir Trust – for which Imran and his wife were presumably trustees. “[The] NAB has arrested him for damaging the national treasury. No violence was done to them,” he added. The former premier was arrested from within the premises of the IHC where he had appeared for hearing of cases pertaining to inciting mutiny, and violence against
PTI worker killed, dozen injured as protests against Imran’s arrest rock country ISLAMABAD/LAHORE STAFF REPORT
At least one Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) worker was killed and dozen others injured in protests erupted across the country following arrest of former prime minister and PTI Chairman Imran Khan from Islamabad High Court premises by Rangers on Tuesday. The PTI worker was killed by police firing on a rally when highly charged supporters of former Prime Minister Imran Khan blocked main Quetta Airport Road to protest against his arrest. “There was a firing incident inside the PTI rally,” a senior police officer informed, requesting anonymity as he was not authorised to speak to the media. PTI Balochistan President Munir Baloch accused the police of firing on the protesters, demanding an investigation into the incident. Enraged demonstrators burnt two police vehicles parked near the rally and pelted stones as police fired tear gas to disperse the highly charged supporters of the PTI chief. Protesters also burnt tires on the main Airport Road Chowk, suspending traffic between Quetta and other parts of Balochistan. The protesters also blocked main national highways in Balochistan linking the country to neighbouring Iran and Afghanistan. A Balochistan police spokesperson said that three police officers were also injured when protesters fired on them. The Balochistan government has imposed Section 144 to maintain order. PTI leader Qasim Suri confirmed that a PTI worker was “martyred” in Quetta during protests in support of party chairman Imran Khan following his arrest earlier on Tuesday.
“The government banned all kinds of political rallies and display of weapons,” Balochistan Home Minister Ziaullah Langove told The Express Tribune. He stressed that no one would be allowed to take the law into their hands and that the government’s writ would be ensured at all costs. PM SUMMONS FEDERAL CABINET MEETING TODAY: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has summoned the federal cabinet meeting on May 10 at 6pm on Wednesday (today). According to sources, the cabinet meeting was summoned amid the current economic and political unrest in the country. After Imran Khan’s arrest sparked protests across the country, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah issued a warning on Tuesday and said that the state will show zero tolerance for lawbreakers who are damaging public and private properties. PUNJAB CARETAKER GOVT IMPOSES SECTION 144 FOR TWO DAYS: The interim provincial government enforced Section 144 across Punjab on Tuesday for two days following the rising unrest after the arrest of former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan in the Al-Qadir Trust case. The imposition of Section 144 is a response to escalating unrest and a measure to maintain law and order after reports of arson and violent protests from different parts of the province. A notification was also issued by the interim provincial government for the imposition of Section 144 across the province.
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Could bull-headed decision to arrest Imran finally tip Pakistan towards default?
ANALYSIS PROFIT
ABDULLAH NIAZI
As former prime minister Imran Khan was pushed, manhandled, and shoved into the back of a rangers vehicle and hurried away into the custody of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), there was little doubt that all hell was about to break loose. In a show of impressive street-power, Khan’s voter-base made their presence known all across the country targeting military cantonments as their protest-location of choice. This on its own is enough to tell us that the tussle in Pakistan is less between the PDM government and Imran Khan and more between the country’s military establishment and its people. While the validity of the case Khan has been taken into custody for is up for discussion, the timing of the arrest reeks of political victimisation. Only a few days ago he had once again named senior military officials as responsible for an assassination attempt against him. But lost in the chaos of raging protests and internet outages was the very real threat of default that Pakistan faces. Only a few hours before Khan was violently ar-
rested by a small battalion of rangers, ratings agency Moody’s had warned that Pakistan could default if an agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) was not inked by the end of June. As things stand, the hopes of an IMF deal are growing slimmer by the day. Pakistan has barely enough foreign reserves to cover imports for a few weeks. Already the tremors of Khan’s arrest are making themselves known. The rupee fell again compared to the dollar and gold prices shot up to another record high as the threat of default ballooned with the events of the day. With delayed elections, a controversial supreme court, historic public unhappiness with Pakistan’s military establishment, and a toothless federal government there are far too many reasons for the IMF to let Pakistan drown and almost none for them to sign an agreement with Pakistan. Already the fund in a recent statement has mentioned that Pakistan is not in their agenda. Look at it this way. The former prime minister who commands popular support has been arrested in a corruption case. The incumbent prime minister is in London, extending his stay on the instruction of his brother and fighting a losing battle on twitter and in his own capital.
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Story behind Al-Qadir Trust case that leads to Imran Khan’s arrest? LAHORE
ABDULLAH NIAZI
PML-N leader Mohsin Shahnawaz Ranjha. PTI lawyer Faisal Chaudhry had initially confirmed news of Imran’s arrest, which had prompted IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq to direct the Islamabad police chief, the interior ministry secretary and the additional attorney general to appear before the court within 15 minutes. The IHC CJ said that he was showing “restraint” and warned that he would “summon” the prime minister if the Islamabad police chief did not appear before the court.
It finally happened. The almost yearlong efforts to arrest former prime minister Imran Khan came to an end in the hustle and bustle of a sweltering Tuesday afternoon outside the Islamabad High Court (IHC). Since being ousted from power, Khan has been hounded by law enforcement agencies over literally hundreds of different cases. He has over time alleged that all of the cases have been cooked up in a deliberate exercise in political victimisation instigated by the incumbent federal government and the military establishment which wishes to see him behind bars. But after multiple armed showdowns at his Zaman Park residence in Lahore and raids on his Bani Gala residence in Islamabad, what has Khan finally been taken into custody for? Initial reports are emerging that it is over the Al-Qadir Trust Case currently being investigated by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB). But what exactly are the details of the Al-Qadir Trust Case? To put it mildly the case is perhaps one of the most clouded and murky webs from the Imran Khan administration and involves among other real estate tycoons, Malik Riaz. The case due to which he has been summoned goes all the way back to 2019, and involves accusations of bribery, corruption, and kickbacks against the government of former prime minister Imran Khan. What is the case about? In 2019, the National Crime Agency (NCA) of the United Kingdom agreed to a settlement worth £190 million with the family of property tycoon Malik Riaz. The settlement was the largest ever in the history of the NCA, and since it was out of court, came with the stipulation that it did not “represent a finding of guilt”.
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IHC terms Imran’s arrest legal; issues contempt notices to Interior Secretary, IG Police STAFF REPORT
STAFF REPORT
Rs 15.00 | Vol XIII No 310 I 8 Pages I Islamabad Edition
letter to the interior ministry for the arrest of the PTI chief in Al-Qadir Trust case. The IHC CJ remarked that nobody is above the law and pointed to injuries lawyers sustained during chaos created during arrest of Imran Khan on the high court’s premises. The IHC CJ further remarked that the court is ascertaining legality of Imran Khan’s arrest whether it is legal or illegal. “What law allows the authorities to arrest someone from the high court’s premises? Justice Farooq had directed the officials to inform the court immediately about who was behind the arrest and in what case the PTI chief had been arrested in. The judge maintained that action would be taken, “even if it has to be taken against ministers”.
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