Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has been been found guilty of corruption allegation and slammed a three-year jail sentence following his refusal to declare proceeds from selling gifts he received in office, charges he denies.
Mr Khan was immediately arrested from his home in Lahore and taken into custody after the court judgement.
In a pre-recorded statement on X, formerly known as Twitter, he told his supporters: “I have only one appeal, don’t sit at home silently.”
The former cricketer-turned-politician, 70, was elected in 2018, but was ousted in a no-confidence vote last year after falling out with Pakistan’s powerful military.
Mr Khan is facing more than 100 cases brought against him since his removal – charges he says are politically motivated.
The verdict on Saturday centred on charges that he incorrectly declared details of gifts from foreign dignitaries and proceeds from their alleged sale.
The gifts – reported to be worth more than 140m Pakistani rupees ($635,000; £500,000) – included Rolex watches, a ring and a pair of cuff links.
“His dishonesty has been established beyond doubt,” judge Humayun Dilawar wrote in his ruling.
Counsel to Mr Khan, Gohar Khan said the verdict was “a murder of justice”.
“We weren’t even given a chance. We weren’t even allowed to cross [examine], to say anything in defence or conduct our arguments. I haven’t seen this kind of injustice before,” he told Dawn newspaper.
As the court decision was announced, a crowd, which included some prosecuting lawyers, began chanting “Imran Khan is a thief” outside the building.
His party, Tehreek-e-Insaf, confirmed to the BBC that after being arrested in Lahore, Mr Khan was flown to the capital, Islamabad, to begin serving his sentence.
For months he had avoided arrest, with his supporters at times fighting pitched battles with police to keep him out of custody.
In May, Mr Khan was arrested for not appearing at court as requested. He was then released, with the arrest declared illegal.
Since being ousted, Mr Khan has been campaigning for early elections.
Conviction would disqualify Mr Khan from standing for office, possibly for life.
Pakistan’s parliament will be dissolved on August 9, leaving a caretaker government to take over in the run up to the elections.
No election date has been announced, although constitutionally they should take place by early November.
