Pakistan’s main opposition leader and former prime minister, Imran Khan, was arrested Saturday, according to senior members of his party and his defense team, after a court found him guilty of corruption charges and sentenced him to three years in prison.
But since then, Pakistani authorities, including the military, have cracked down on Khan’s supporters and the leadership of his party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf , or Movement for Justice. Scores of political aides and party members have resigned, citing pressure from the military, which supported Khan before he ultimately fell out of favor with the powerful generals.
More than one year later, Khan’s party is a shadow of its former self. “Most of our top leadership is underground,” Raoof Hasan, a PTI spokesman, said Saturday. official Attaullah Tarar said the trial’s outcome showed that Khan was “a convicted thief and criminal.” If Khan managed to get on the ballot despite his incarceration, his populist appeal may still help him win the upcoming vote, analysts say. Voters also may get frustrated if the election — which is so far expected to take place in November — is delayed, according to Khan’s allies.
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Pakistan police arrest Imran Khan in Lahore: lawyerPolice arrest Pakistan's former PM Imran Khan in the eastern city of Lahore, his lawyer says, after a court sentenced him to three years in prison for illegally selling state gifts
Read more »
Pakistan's Imran Khan arrested after court sentences ex-PM to 3 years jailPolice arrested Pakistan's former prime minister Imran Khan in the eastern city of Lahore on Saturday after a court sentenced the opposition leader to three years in prison for illegally selling state gifts.
Read more »
Factbox: The criminal case against Pakistan ex-PM Imran KhanPakistani police arrested former Prime Minister Imran Khan on Saturday after a court sentenced him to three years in prison for illegally selling state gifts.
Read more »
Imran Khan, cricket star turned Pakistan premier, arrested againPakistan's former Prime Minister Imran Khan, arrested for the second time in four months on Saturday, faces an increasingly tough challenge in his bid to regain office in elections to be held by November.
Read more »
Imran Khan arrested after Pakistan court sentences ex-prime minister to three years in jailPolice arrested Pakistan's former Prime Minister Imran Khan in Lahore on Saturday after a court sentenced him to three years in prison for illegally selling state gifts, potentially barring the opposition leader from contesting an upcoming election.
Read more »