Pakistan’s already-turbulent political atmosphere is set for further upheaval as Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan was taken into custody by Rangers personnel at the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on a National Accountability Bureau (NAB) warrant. The arrest is related to the ongoing investigation into the Al-Qadir Trust case, as Khan was seeking bail in multiple FIRs filed against him.
Rangers, driving a black Toyota Hilux Vigo, escorted Khan to NAB Rawalpindi. It seems Khan had anticipated his arrest, as he made a statement before heading to court: “If someone has a warrant, they should directly bring it to me. Bring the warrant, my lawyer will be there. I’m ready to go to jail myself.”
The former prime minister urged that he should be approached with a warrant and cautioned against any theatrics. He expressed his readiness to face arrest and incarceration, stating, “There is no case against me. I’m mentally prepared to be arrested. If I have to go to jail, I’m ready.” Khan, a former cricketer turned politician, emphasized that the nation has known him for the past 50 years.
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Khan’s dramatic arrest involved paramilitary forces breaking down doors, jumping through shattered windows, and clashing with PTI supporters and lawyers to apprehend the embattled politician. This event has ignited protests across the nation. Islamabad’s Inspector General of Police, Dr. Akbar Nasir Khan, confirmed the incident and assured that the situation was under control.
Media has reported that Khan was in the IHC’s biometric verification department when paramilitary personnel arrested him based on NAB officials’ warrants. These warrants were issued on May 1 by NAB Chairman Lt Gen (retd) Nazir Ahmad Butt.
According to a NAB statement, Khan was charged under Section 9A of the National Accountability Ordinance 1999. The organization clarified that the arrest was executed by the NAB, with Rangers deployed on orders from the Ministry of the Interior. The statement confirmed that Rangers did not detain Khan, while Section 144 had already been imposed in the federal capital.
The Al-Qadir Trust case involves Khan, his wife Bushra Bibi, and other PTI leaders who face a NAB inquiry for a settlement between the PTI government and a property tycoon, allegedly costing the national exchequer 190 million pounds.
The charges accuse Khan and others of adjusting Rs50 billion (190 million pounds at the time) received from Britain’s National Crime Agency (NCA) and unlawfully benefiting from over 458 kanals of land at Mouza Bakrala, Sohawa, to establish Al Qadir University.