Pakistan Police Arrests Imran Khan's Nephew, PTI Supporters For Attack On Security Forces

With Monday's arrests, the total number of Khan's followers arrested in Islamabad since Saturday has now increased to 198. Among those arrested also include Hassan Niazi, Khan's nephew.

Supporters of Pakistan's former prime minister Imran Khan, carry placards displaying a portrait of Khan during a protest in Karachi

Source : AFP

Pakistani police detained Imran Khan's nephew and a number of his supporters on Monday, in connection with their alleged involvement in the weekend attacks on security personnel outside a court in the country's capital, where the ousted premier arrived from Lahore to appear in an eagerly awaited corruption hearing, news agency PTI reported.

The arrests were the latest in a series of charges made against Khan, the leader of the largest opposition party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).

After Monday's arrests, the total number of Khan's followers arrested in Islamabad since Saturday has risen to 198. Hassan Niazi, Khan's nephew, is also among those detained.

According to the PTI report, the details of the other arrests were not immediately available. While riot police brandished batons and shot tear gas, his followers hurled firebombs and stones at the officers.

Nearly 50 officers were injured, and a police checkpoint, as well as many cars and motorcycles, were set on fire, the report said. 

In two separate cases, Lahore Police booked Khan and over 1,000 PTI workers on terrorism accusations on Sunday.

The number of cases filed against Khan has climbed to 97.

During the search, police also claimed to have recovered weapons, Kalashnikovs, ammunition, marbles, and petrol bombs from his residence.

Khan, 70, arrived in the federal capital from Lahore on Saturday and appeared at the district court gates in the much-anticipated corruption case.  But, because of the turmoil outside the judicial complex, Khan was allowed to return home after signing a register.

The former prime minister has been accused of buying gifts for profit, including a costly Graff wristwatch he obtained as premier at a reduced price from the official depository known as Toshakhana.

Khan was disqualified by the Election Commission of Pakistan in October of last year for failing to provide sales details.

The election commission later filed a case with the district court, requesting that he be punished under criminal law for selling the gifts he received as Prime Minister of the country.

Khan has categorically denied the allegations.

Khan, the cricketer-turned-politician, was deposed in April of last year after losing a no-confidence vote, which he claimed was part of a US-led conspiracy to destabilise him due to his independent foreign policy decisions on Russia, China, and Afghanistan.

After his ouster, he called for early elections to remove an "imported government" led by Prime Minister Sharif.

Sharif has stated that elections will be held later this year when the parliament's five-year term ends.

(With Inputs From PTI)