Pakistani Police Give Arrest Warrant To Former PM Imran Khan, Must Appear in Court Tomorrow

Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan. (Wikimedia Commons/The White House)

JAKARTA - Pakistani police on Sunday granted an arrest warrant for former prime minister Imran Khan, to ensure his appearance in court on charges of abusing his position to sell state gifts, authorities said, after Khan's supporters tried to prevent police from entering his home.

Pakistan's election commission in October found the 70-year-old former cricketer-turned-politician guilty of unlawfully selling gifts from foreign dignitaries.

The Federal Investigation Service later filed charges against him in the anti-corruption court, which last week issued an arrest warrant after Khan failed to appear in court despite repeated subpoenas.

Khan has been demanding snap elections since his removal from office in a parliamentary vote early last year, a request rejected by his successor Shehbaz Sharif, who said a vote would be held as scheduled later this year.

Khan, who led a nationwide protest campaign to call for a vote early last year, was shot and injured at one of the rallies.

Referring to his absence from court and the shooting incident, Khan said on Sunday: "They (police) knew there was a threat to my life," adding that the court did not provide adequate security.

Khan's aide Fawad Chaudhry said he could not be arrested as he had been guaranteed protection from the high court.

Chaudhry explained that the government wants to sow political chaos and avoid early elections by arresting the former prime minister, who is still popular among youth and urban voters.

Separately, Islamabad police said in a statement that when Khan was not found at his Lahore residence, they carried out an arrest warrant.

Khan is required to appear in court on March 7. If he fails to do so, the police will be required to arrest him and bring him to justice, according to Home Minister Rana Sanaullah.