Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah on Tuesday strongly denied reports of torture by Rangers personnel during his arrest from the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan.
A senior Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PMLN) leader said on Twitter: “Imran Khan has not ensured his appearance despite multiple notices. The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has arrested him for defrauding the national exchequer.
The interior minister wrote on his official handle that “no violence was done to him.”
نوٹسز کے باوجود عمران پیش نہیں ہوئے، قومی خزانے کو نقصان پہنچانے پر نیب کی جانب سے گرفتاری کی گئی ہے۔ ان پر کسی قسم کا کوئی تشدد نہیں کیا گیا۔
— Rana SanaUllah Khan (@RanaSanaullahPK) May 9, 2023
Later, while holding a press conference in Islamabad, Sanaullah reiterated that no one was tortured during the arrest of the ousted prime minister.
“The Rangers did not break the windows, they were broken during the chaotic situation,” he added.
Talking about the arrest, Sanaullah said that Khan has been detained according to law. NAB is an independent body and the government neither controls nor tries to control it.
He said that NAB is conducting an inquiry against the former prime minister. Imran Khan’s investigation on the notice of NAB was necessary and it was not a political revenge against him.
The security czar also said that the PTI chairman tried to resist the arrest and the party’s lawyers obstructed the legal process.
Sanaullah said that Khan was making corruption cases against his political opponents when he himself was involved in corruption.
Rangers tortured Imran Khan.
Earlier, Imran Khan’s lawyer Barrister Ali Gohar told the media that the Rangers personnel tortured the PTI chairman during the arrest.
He claimed that Imran Khan was injured on his head and leg.
Gohar added that he and Ali Bukhari were present with the PTI chief at the time of his arrest.
“Rangers broke the glass and entered the diary branch,” advocate Gauhar added, adding that the law enforcers broke the main gate of the IHC before ransacking the High Court office.
‘Let the law take its course’
Meanwhile, Defense Minister Khawaja Asif said that Imran Khan used NAB against others while in power, later referring to the prime ministership from 2018 to 2022.
اقتدار میں IK نے نیب نیب بہت کھیلا۔فرمائشی گرفتاریاں ھوتی تھیں لاڈلا ضد کرتا ضد پوری ھوتی تھی۔ قید میں لاڈلے کی انا کی تسکین کے لئے اذیتیں دی جاتیں تھیں۔ بیٹیوں بہنوں کو بھی نیب نے گرفتار کیا۔ نیب عدالتیں آلہ کار بن کئیں۔ انشااللہ اب صرف قانون حرکت کرے گا۔ قانون کسی کے تابع نہیں
— Khawaja M. Asif (@KhawajaMAsif) May 9, 2023
“People were arrested on his demands and they were tortured to satisfy this ladla’s ego. Even daughters and sisters were detained by NAB. Only law will take its course now as it is not subject to anyone,” wrote the defence minister.
Imran Khan’s arrest
Earlier today, the former premier was arrested by Rangers personnel from Islamabad High Court (IHC) acting on NAB’s warrant.
The PTI chairman was arrested as part of the NAB’s investigation in the Al-Qadir Trust case ahead of his appearance before the IHC to seek bail in multiple FIRs registered against him.
The Rangers personnel driving a black Toyota Hilux Vigo took Imran Khan away to NAB Rawalpindi.
Khan’s dramatic arrest, in which paramilitary troops had to break several doors, jump through smashed windows, and scuffle with PTI supporters and lawyers to reach the legally beleaguered firebrand politician, has sparked protests across the country.
Inspector General of Police, (IGP) Islamabad Dr Akbar Nasir Khan confirmed the development and said that the situation was under control.
According to JEE News, the PTI chairman was in the IHC’s biometric verification department when he was nabbed by security personnel. The NAB officials had arrest warrants.
Khan’s warrants were issued on May 1 by NAB chairman Lt Gen (retd) Nazir Ahmad Butt.
As per details, Khan was booked under Section 9A of the National Accountability Ordinance 1999.
