Former Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan has been arrested by the country’s anti-corruption force outside an Islamabad court where he was due to face graft charges.
“Mr Khan is in custody right now to face corruption allegations,” a senior Pakistani government official told the FT, without specifying the exact charge.
Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party tweeted that “rangers abducted” Khan, posting a video that showed the former cricket star turned politician being dragged into an armoured vehicle by a crowd of agents, many carrying riot shields and wearing helmets.
The arrest of the country’s most popular politician comes as prime minister Shehbaz Sharif’s government intensifies pressure on Khan, who was ousted from office in April last year.
Khan faces a barrage of legal challenges that could prevent him from running for office if convicted, including allegations that he unlawfully sold gifts he received while serving as prime minister.
This is a developing story
