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
T20 World Cup: ICC deputy chief in Lahore for talks after Pakistan boycotts India match
- Islamabad’s boycott over Bangladesh’s exclusion has threatened the tournament’s most lucrative game
- Bangladesh Cricket Board chief has also arrived in Pakistan and is expected to participate in meetings
ISLAMABAD: International Cricket Council (ICC) Deputy Chairman Imran Khwaja arrived in Lahore on Sunday for talks with Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) officials, the PCB said, as the sport’s governing body strives to save a high-stakes T20 World Cup clash between arch-rivals Pakistan and India.
The development follows Islamabad’s decision to boycott the Feb. 15 Pakistan-India match in Colombo, a move to protest the ICC’s exclusion of Bangladesh from the ongoing T20 World Cup.
The controversy over Pakistan’s participation erupted after the ICC replaced Bangladesh with Scotland, following Bangladesh’s decision to not play matches in India owing to security fears.
The ICC has since requested the Pakistan Cricket Board to reconsider the decision to boycott their match against India in Colombo or they will have to forfeit the marquee game of the tournament.
“ICC Deputy Chairman Imran Khwaja arrived in Lahore,” the PCB said on Sunday, adding that he was received at the airport by the PCB chairman’s adviser, Aamir Mir.
Prior to Khwaja’s arrival in Lahore, where the PCB is headquartered, Pakistan welcomed Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) President Aminul Islam, who was received by PCB CEO Salman Naseer.
The two visiting officials are scheduled to meet PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi.
“Bangladesh Cricket Board President Aminul Islam will also take part in other meetings,” the PCB said in a statement, hinting that he will be part of the meeting with ICC’s Khwaja.
The dispute stems from the ICC’s decision to replace Bangladesh with Scotland last month after Bangladesh refused to play tournament matches in India. Dhaka’s decision followed the removal of Mustafizur Rahman from the Indian Premier League (IPL). He was bought for $1 million by the IPL’s Kolkata Knight Riders, but on Jan. 3 the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) ordered Kolkata to release Mustafizur without a public explanation but amid regional tensions.
Pakistan have boycotted the 27th match of the tournament against India, due to take place at R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. An India-Pakistan fixture is the sport’s most lucrative asset, generating a massive share of global broadcasting and sponsorship revenue.
The PCB has remained defiant amid reports of potential sanctions. On Saturday, the board rejected claims by Indian media that it had initiated a dialogue with the ICC to find a way out of the standoff.
“I categorically reject the claim by Indian sports journalist Vikrant Gupta that PCB approached the ICC,” PCB’s Mir said in a statement. “As usual, sections of Indian media are busy circulating fiction. A little patience and time will clearly show who actually went knocking and who didn’t.”
The standoff highlights the growing friction within the sport’s governance.
Pakistan has accused India’s cricket board of influencing the ICC’s decisions.
Defense Minister Khawaja Asif this week called for the formation of a new cricket governing body, saying the ICC, currently chaired by Jay Shah, son of India’s Home Minister Amit Shah, was being held “hostage” to “Indian political interests.”
India generates the largest share of cricket’s commercial revenue and hence enjoys considerable influence over the sport. Critics argue that this financial contribution translates into decisive leverage within the ICC.
A large part of that revenue comes from the Indian Premier League (IPL), the sport’s most lucrative T20 cricket competition, which is run by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). Between 2024 and 2027, the IPL is projected to earn $1.15 billion, nearly 39 percent of the ICC’s total annual revenue, according to international media reports.
While the Pakistani government cleared the team to participate in the rest of the tournament, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif maintained that the boycott of the India game was necessary to protest the “unjust” treatment of Bangladesh.
