‘Keep protesting till…’: Imran Khan to supporters in pre-arrest video

By India Today World Desk: Pakistan’s former Prime Minister Imran Khan was arrested on Saturday after a courtroom in Islamabad sentenced him to a few years in jail in reference to the Toshakhana case. Imran Khan has been accused of illegally promoting presents from heads of state price a whole lot of thousands and thousands of rupees.

Imran Khan was arrested for the second time in three months. Shortly after his arrest, a video was posted on Imran Khan’s official X (previously Twitter) account.

In the video recorded previous to his arrest, Imran Khan urged his supporters to not sit quietly at house and proceed protesting for his or her rights.

Imran Khan stated, “My Pakistanis, by the time this message reaches you, I will be arrested and put in jail. My only appeal to you is not to sit quietly at home. The struggle that I am going through, it is not for myself, it is for you. This struggle is for your generations. If you don’t stand up for your rights, (but) live the life of a slave…Mind you, slaves have no life of their own. Slaves are like ants on land. They don’t make it to greater heights.”

“This is a battle of justice, your rights, and freedom. Always remember that no one offers freedom on a plate. You keep protesting until you get your rights. And the biggest fundamental right is to elect the government of your choice through ballot,” Imran Khan might be heard saying within the video.

Pakistan is more likely to maintain basic elections within the coming months as the present authorities’s time period will finish on August 12.

The video was posted on social media with the caption: “Message of Chairman, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf: My arrest was anticipated so I recorded this message earlier than my arrest. This is one other step in direction of the implementation of the London Plan, however I would like my employees to stay calm, steadfast and powerful. We don’t bow right down to anybody besides the Almighty God.”

Meanwhile, safety has been beefed up and heavy police contingents have been deployed on all primary roads and buildings in Lahore within the wake of Imran Khan’s arrest.

WHY WAS IMRAN KHAN ARRESTED?

A courtroom in Pakistan sentenced Imran Khan to a few years in jail within the Toshakhana case. The courtroom additionally barred Imran Khan from collaborating in energetic politics for 5 years.

Toshakhana is a Pakistan authorities division which shops presents and different costly objects acquired by authorities officers. Imran Khan has been accused of shopping for a number of helpful presents and promoting them for undeclared revenue.

As per information launched by the Pakistan authorities, Imran Khan had acquired a number of costly presents whereas he was in energy, together with 5 costly wristwatches, together with a Graff watch, price 3.8 million Pakistani rupees (PKR) — round Rs 1.1 million at present charges. Imran Khan retained these presents in October 2018 after paying 1 / 4 of 1,000,000.

The trial courtroom on Saturday held that Imran Khan had “deliberately submitted fake details” of the presents to the Election Commission of Pakistan and had been concerned in corruption.

Sentencing Imran Khan to a few years in jail, the Additional Judge Humayun Dilawar of the Islamabad-based district and classes choose additionally imposed a nice of Rs100,000 on the previous Pakistan PM, including that the 70-year-old chief could be stored in jail for an additional six months if didn’t pay the nice.