Clashes in Pakistan as former Prime Minister Imran Khan faces arrest: 10 points

1. In October last year, Imran Khan, 70, was found guilty by the Election Commission of Pakistan of illegally selling gifts to foreign dignitaries.

2. Under Pakistani law governing Islamabad’s “Toshakhana” – which means “treasure house” in Persian – politicians can keep official gifts to the state by paying a certain percentage of their value to the government.

3. The cricketer-turned-politician was charged in an anti-corruption court last week. An arrest warrant was issued after Khan sidestepped summons.

4. Pakistani police used water cannon and tear gas to repel hundreds of Khan’s supporters who had gathered outside his home to prevent his arrest on Tuesday. An activist of Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party was killed during the clash with the police.

5. This is the second time in recent weeks that police have been dispatched from Islamabad to serve Khan with an arrest warrant after he slipped several court summons.

6. As chaos erupted outside his residence, Khan released a video message. He said, “The police have come to arrest me. They think if Imran Khan goes to jail, people will go to sleep. You have to prove them wrong, you have to prove that the khum (people) are alive.”

7. “You have to fight for your rights, you have to take to the streets. God has given Imran Khan everything. I am fighting your battle. I have fought all my life and will continue to do so. But if something happens to me, they put me in jail or kill me, you have to prove it.” That you can fight even without Imran Khan. You have to prove that you will never accept this slavery and this rule by one man, Pakistan Zandabad.”

8. On Monday, Mr. Khan was booked by the Lahore Police in a case related to the death of a PTI worker – Ali Bilal alias Zail Shah – in a road accident. Earlier, the Lahore Police had registered an FIR against Khan and 400 others for killing Shah.

9. This is the 81st FIR against Khan since the PML-led federal coalition came to power 11 months ago.

10. Khan was ousted from power in April last year after losing a no-confidence vote claiming he was part of a US-led plot.

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