Former Pakistan PM Imran Khan arrested over corruption charges

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 residence in 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).

Khan has denied any wrongdoing and his political party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) said in a statement an 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, 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.