According to local media, former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan was arrested outside the Islamabad High Court on Tuesday. His party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), said Imran Khan was hurt after being pushed by Pakistani Rangers while being arrested. In a tweet, PTI Vice President Fawad Chaudhry claimed Khan was kidnapped from the courtroom and that scores of lawyers and citizens were abused. “Imran Khan has been whisked away by unknown people to an unknown location,” he tweeted. “CJ Islamabad High Court has ordered Secy Interior and IG Police to appear in court within 15 minutes.” Faisal Chaudhry, a lawyer for the PTI, verified the situation. In a video message posted on Twitter, PTI leader Musarrat Cheema said, “They are torturing Imran Khan right now… They’re crushing Khan Sahib. They did something to Khan Sahib.”
He was seized by Rangers while attending two hearings at the Islamabad High Court on Tuesday afternoon. According to a Reuters witness, contingents of paramilitary forces and armored personnel carriers followed Khan into the Islamabad High Court. The armored trucks blocked the gate, and Khan was carried away shortly after under tight protection, according to the witness.
According to PTI leaders, Islamabad High Court Chief Justice Aamer Farooq has ordered the Islamabad police chief, interior ministry secretary, and additional attorney general to appear before the court within 15 minutes, as reported by Dawn, and to explain why Khan was arrested. “Come to court and tell us why Imran has been arrested and in which case,” Justice Farooq urged, according to the publication.
Imran Khan’s arrest warrant was issued by NAB Rawalpindi on May 1st and was carried out by Rangers in Islamabad today.
“Just a few moments before the arrest, Imran Khan was waiting for biometrics in Islamabad High Court,” Pakistan journalist Hamid Mir tweeted. Rangers arrested Khan during the biometrics procedure, according to his lawyer Barrister Gohar Khan. Gohar alleged that Rangers pushed him first and then forcibly arrested Khan.“
