ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s main lawyer was arrested outside the high-security Adiala Jail on Friday, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party said, after he arrived there to visit the ex-premier along with the legal team.
Khan, who was ousted from power in a parliamentary no-confidence vote in April 2022, has been in prison since his arrest in August 2023 in a graft case.
He has faced a slew of charges, which he calls politically motivated, and has been acquitted in some cases. However, last month he was found guilty in a corruption reference involving £190 million and sentenced to 14 years in prison.
His lawyer’s arrest comes as PTI prepares to observe February 8 as “Black Day,” marking the first anniversary of Pakistan’s last general election, whose results the party has disputed.
“Former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s lawyer, Advocate Faisal Chaudhry, has been arrested outside Adiala Jail,” PTI announced in a post on social media platform X. “He, along with other lawyers, had gone to get Imran Khan’s power of attorney signed. He was taken away by a heavy contingent of forces.”
The party condemned the arrest and demanded Chaudhry’s immediate release.
While there has been no official government statement on the development, local media widely reported the incident, with a leading channel quoting police sources as saying the arrest was linked to a verbal altercation with a jail officer a day earlier.
“They [the police] arrested the lawyer for using derogatory language against jail officer Imran Riaz a day ago,” Geo TV reported, citing police sources.
The exchange reportedly took place on Thursday after Chaudhry was denied permission to meet Khan.
However, Chaudhry told the media his only fault was relaying the former prime minister’s conversations to the public after their previous meetings.
Imran Khan’s party says his lawyer arrested outside Rawalpindi’s high-security prison
https://arab.news/pdqdz
Imran Khan’s party says his lawyer arrested outside Rawalpindi’s high-security prison
- Local news outlet says Faisal Chaudhry was arrested after a verbal altercation with police a day earlier
- Khan’s opposition PTI party condemns the development, calling for his lawyer’s immediate release
Pakistan PM to join dialogue panel, meet global leaders at World Economic Forum
- Sharif to address Pakistan breakfast event and attend informal world leaders’ meeting in Davos
- Deputy PM Ishaq Dar inaugurates Pakistan Pavilion to display start-ups and investment potential
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is scheduled to step up Pakistan’s engagement at the World Economic Forum on Wednesday, participating in a panel discussion on dialogue in an increasingly divided world and meeting international leaders and heads of global institutions.
Sharif flew to Switzerland a day earlier to attend the WEF’s 56th annual meeting.
The WEF brings together heads of state, senior government officials, business executives and leaders of international organizations to discuss global economic, political and social challenges.
“Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif will have a busy day in Davos today,” his office said in a statement released Wednesday afternoon.
“The prime minister will attend a Pakistan breakfast event and will also address the gathering,” it added. “He will take part in an informal meeting of world leaders this year themed ‘The Importance of Dialogue in a Divided Global Landscape.’”
On the sidelines of the WEF, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, who is accompanying Sharif, inaugurated the Pathfinder Group’s Pakistan Pavilion, describing it as a platform to project Pakistan’s economic potential and the growing role of innovation-driven enterprises.
“He underscored the critical role of start-ups in advancing socio-economic development and driving innovation across diverse sectors,” the foreign ministry said in a statement, adding that the government remained committed to supporting entrepreneurs, particularly youth-led ventures.
Pakistan’s participation at the WEF comes as Islamabad seeks to sustain recent economic stabilization and attract investment by engaging directly with policymakers, business leaders and international institutions at the annual gathering.
