PTI chairman Imran Khan, who was present at the Islamabad High Court (IHC) for two hearings on Tuesday afternoon, was taken into custody by the Rangers from the premises.
PTI lawyer Faisal Chaudhry confirmed the development to Dawn prompted IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq to direct the Islamabad police chief, the interior ministry secretary, and the additional attorney general to appear before the court within 15 minutes.
The IHC CJ said that he was showing “restraint” and warned that he would “summon” the prime minister if the Islamabad police chief did not appear before the court.
“Come to court and tell us why Imran has been arrested and in which case,” Justice Farooq said.
A Reuters witness said shortly after Imran entered the gate of the IHC, contingents of paramilitary forces and armored personnel carriers entered after him.
The gate was blocked by the armored vehicles while Khan was whisked away shortly after under heavy security, the witness added.
The development comes on the heels of the military’s rejection of accusations Imran made against a serving senior intelligence officer.
Imran had accused the officer of involvement in the assassination attempt against him in Wazirabad. Imran doubled down on the allegations in a video message today.
The former premier’s detention also follows several unsuccessful attempts, including a police raid at his residence in Lahore’s Zaman Park, to arrest him which he had managed to evade successfully.
The arrest warrant of Imran Khan was issued by NAB Rawalpindi on May 1st and has been executed by Rangers in Islamabad today.
