Pakistan Ex-PM Imran Khan’s Lawyers Cannot Reach Him in Jail – Spokesperson

ISLAMABAD (Reuters) – Pakistani former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s attorneys couldn’t attain him on Sunday after he spent the night time in a jail close to the capital following his arrest the day prior to this on a corruption conviction, a spokesperson stated.

Khan was taken by police from his residence within the japanese metropolis of Lahore on Saturday and transferred to the jail simply outdoors Islamabad, the place a court docket had convicted him of fees arising over the sale of state items. The conviction possible means the cricket star-turned-politician will probably be disqualified from working in a nationwide election.

“Attock jail is a ‘No Go’ space for (his) authorized staff in addition to locals within the neighborhood,” stated Naeem Haider Panjotha, Khan’s spokesperson for authorized affairs, including they had been unable to take him meals or organize the signing of authorized paperwork.

Pakistan’s info minister referred a request for touch upon Khan’s entry to his attorneys to provincial authorities in Punjab, the place the jail is situated. Punjab’s prime info official couldn’t instantly be reached for remark.

It was not clear whether or not Khan would seem in court docket on Monday, after a trial court docket’s shock weekend resolution sentencing him to a few years in jail.

The arrest was the newest in a collection of blows which have weakened Khan’s political standing, after he fell out with Pakistan’s highly effective army and his celebration splintered.

His Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) celebration stated it had filed appeals in greater courts over the choice.

The nationwide response was largely quiet, a distinction to widespread violent clashes that plunged the nation into turmoil after Khan’s several-day arrest in Could, regardless of calls by his celebration on Saturday for nationwide peaceable protests.

1000’s of Khan’s aides and supporters have been arrested since Could, in response to the inside minister. Many professional-Khan parliamentarians had been additionally arrested and have distanced themselves from Khan, with some resigning from politics.

His arrest got here days earlier than the federal government was anticipated to dissolve parliament, which might usually result in elections by November. However the authorities selected Saturday to make use of the newest census as a part of election process, doubtlessly delaying the vote.

Britain’s overseas workplace stated on Saturday it was intently monitoring the state of affairs and supported democratic ideas. Pakistan’s authorities denies Khan’s arrest was associated to the election.

Authorized specialists say the conviction means Khan would possible be disqualified type politics for 5 years.

His vice chairman, former overseas minister, Shah Mahmood Qureshi, has taken the helm of PTI in his absence.

(Reporting by Charlotte Greenfield in Islamabad; Further reporting by Mubasher Bukhari in Lahore; Modifying by William Mallard)

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