Former Pakistani Prime Minister Khan detained after court sentences him to three years in prison

(Patria) - Police arrested Pakistani 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 participating in upcoming elections, Reuters reported.

Legal experts say the conviction by an Islamabad district court could eliminate Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's biggest rival in national elections expected in November.

"Police have arrested Imran Khan at his residence," Khan's lawyer Intezar Panjotha told Reuters. "We are filing a plea in the High Court against the decision," he added.

His party called for peaceful protests against the decision, but there was only a limited public response on Saturday evening. The arrest was the latest in a series of blows that have weakened Khan's political standing, after he fell out with the powerful Pakistani military and his party disintegrated. Khan's political party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), said it had filed another appeal with the Supreme Court earlier on Saturday.

Khan (70) is a former cricket star who went on to build a political career, serving as prime minister from 2018 to 2022. He has denied committing any crimes and, in a pre-recorded video message released by his party, asked supporters to protest peacefully.

"When you hear this statement, I will be arrested. I have only one appeal: do not sit at home peacefully. I am fighting for you and the country and the future of your children," he said.

The verdict came a day after Pakistan's high court had temporarily halted proceedings in the district court. It was not immediately clear why the trial had proceeded despite the High Court's decision.

Khan's deputy and former foreign minister, Shah Mahmood Qureshi, who PTI said would lead the party in Khan's absence, said their leader had been denied a fair trial.

"We have to fight for his freedom - we have to fight legally and politically
and move forward peacefully in accordance with Imran Khan's directives," he said.
The party's top decision-making body met on Saturday and called for peaceful protests across the country, according to a statement.

Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb said Khan's arrest followed a full investigation and due legal process in court. She said his arrest was not related to the upcoming elections.

Khan said the army, under General Asim Munir, was still targeting him and his party in an attempt to prevent him from participating in elections and stop him from returning to power. The army denies this.