In Pakistan, PTI supporters clash with cops: What is the latest trouble for Imran

According to Dawn, the police reached his residence in armoured vehicles and met with huge protests staged by PTI workers, who allegedly pelted stones at them. The personnel dispersed the demonstrators by using water cannons and teargas, the news outlet said.

The incident took place a day after an Islamabad sessions court restored a non-bailable arrest warrant against Imran for his persistent absences in the Toshakhana case. The warrant was first issued on February 28, when he failed to appear before the court for his indictment. This was the third time that Imran’s indictment in the case was deferred.

Meanwhile, on Monday, a different court issued a non-bailable arrest warrant against him in a case pertaining to threatening a woman additional district and sessions judge. But it later suspended the warrant till March 16.

What is the Toshakhana case?

The Toshakhana controversy came to the forefront when in August 2022, the coalition government led by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) filed a case against Imran, claiming that he didn’t disclose information on gifts presented to the Toshakhana  and the proceeds from the “illegal” sale of some the gifts.

Established in 1974, Toshakhana is a department under the administrative control of the Cabinet Division, which stores gifts and other expensive items received by public officials. According to its rules, it is compulsory for officials to report the gifts and other such materials received by them to the Cabinet Division.

However, when Imran came to power in 2018, he resisted disclosing details of the many presents he received during his time in office, saying that doing so would severely impact relations with other countries.

Subsequently, the former prime minister wrote a letter to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and admitted to selling at least four such presents, but also said that he bought them from the government by paying a percentage of their value.

On Sunday, the Pakistan government released a list of all gifts recorded in Toshakhana since 2002 and it was found that Imran while being the head of the state received as many as 101 gifts. “Of this, he has retained gifts worth at least PKR 100 million by Sept 24, 2018, paying only PKR 20 million to the Toshkana, as per records,” The Indian Express reported.

It added that the gifts he kept with himself included a diamond watch worth PKR 85 million, a pair of cufflinks worth PKR 5.6 million, a ring worth PKR 8.75 million and a pen worth PKR 1.5 million. Imran also retained several Rolex watches, including one priced at PKR 1.5 million by paying PKR 294,000 in October 2018. He also kept gifts such as Dolce & Gabbana and Bvlgari LE Gemme perfumes, an iPhone, a Mont Blanc pen, a model of a mosque and bottles of attar, among others.

What did the ECP say about the controversy?

Almost two months after the case was filed against Imran, the ECP found that while the sales weren’t illegal because the items belonged to Imran as he had paid for them, he did engage in unethical behaviour, making false assertions and erroneous declarations. The apex poll body barred Imran from holding public office for a period of five years.

In its ruling, it said, “We are of the considered opinion that the respondent has become disqualified under Article 63(1)(p) of the (Pakistan) Constitution read with Sections 137,167 and 173 of the Elections Act, 2017, consequently he ceases to be a member of the National Assembly of Pakistan and his seat has become vacant accordingly”.

What happened after Imran was disqualified?

Soon after the announcement of the ECP’s decision, huge protests led by PTI workers broke out in front of the poll body’s offices across the country. Multiple instances of vandalism were reported during these demonstrations and protesters clashed with the police.

A case of terrorism was then registered against Imran, alleging that the PTI leadership had encouraged the protests after the ECP disqualified the prime minister in the Toshakhana case.

What are the other cases against Imran?

Apart from the Toshakhana and the terrorism cases, the former PM is also facing trials in connection to threatening an additional district and sessions judge. As per Dawn, Imran was booked after he announced in August 2022 to file cases against Inspector General of Police (IGP) Akbar Nasir Khan, the DIG and Additional District and Sessions Judge Zeba Chaudhry for not taking action regarding the alleged custodial torture of his aid, Shahbaz Gill.

The former PM has also been booked in an attempt to murder charge. This case was registered by Pakistan Muslim League (N) politician Mohsin Shahnawaz Ranjha, who alleged that during the October protests outside the ECP office in Islamabad, a Khyber Pakhtunkhwa policeman attacked him in an attempt to kill him at the behest of Imran.

Another case against him is pertaining to the allegations of prohibited funding. Imran and his party have been accused of receiving funding from Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan (head of UAE’s Ministry of Culture), overseas Pakistanis and their companies. There are claims that there were several irregularities in the process. The case was filed by the state through the Federal Investigation Agency’s Corporate Banking Circle in Islamabad.