A Pakistani court on Thursday directed former Prime Minister Imran Khan to surrender in order to avoid being arrested in the state repository case, according to media reports.
The remarks by Additional District and Sessions Judge Zafar Iqbal came while hearing the case against Khan filed by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).
The federal election agency has called for criminal proceedings against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party leader Khan for allegedly hiding the details of gifts he had received from foreign dignitaries during his stint as Prime Minister between 2018 and 2022.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's government has accused Khan of not depositing the gifts in the state repository, the Toshakhana. Furthermore, Khan has been accused of “illegally” selling off the gifts and not depositing the proceeds of the sales with the state.
Pakistan’s Federal Investigative Agency (FIA) began a graft probe into the matter against Khan last April.
Clashes at Khan’s Residence
Violent protests by Khan’s supporters from PTI broke out at his Lahore residence on Tuesday after police arrived there to execute a non-bailable warrant against him.
Nearly 60 people, most of them security personnel, were injured in the clashes as police arrived at his residence to arrest the former prime minister.
Following the skirmishes that lasted till Wednesday, the Lahore High Court on Wednesday asked the police to postpone his arrest till Thursday.