Authorities in Pakistan conducted a raid on the Lahore residence of former prime minister Imran Khan, according to reports from Reuters citing party representatives. The raid follows a period of tension and street clashes between police forces and Khan’s supporters that began around the same home as officers sought Khan’s arrest on March 14. Eyewitness accounts and party sources describe a tense standoff with police and supporters, underscoring the escalating political climate around Khan and his legal challenges.
Earlier, Geo News reported that Imran Khan, who led the government from 2018 to 2022 and now chairs the Movement for Justice (JM) party, was en route to a session at the Islamabad District Court. The former leader faces allegations related to the sale of gifts given by foreign dignitaries, a charge that has kept him at the center of Pakistan’s political and legal discourse. The developments come as Khan has repeatedly argued that the legal actions against him are politically motivated and aimed at undermining his party’s popularity.
In September 2022, the Islamabad High Court moved to charge Khan with contempt of court, a ruling that added to the ongoing legal pressures surrounding him. This action followed a sequence of judicial and political events that have kept Khan in the national spotlight and prompted heated debates about accountability, governance, and the role of the judiciary in Pakistan’s democratic process.
Prior to the contempt decision, police had filed criminal charges against Khan under anti-terrorism provisions. Officials cited statements made by Khan at a rally held in Islamabad on August 20, including remarks directed at a police inspector general and a female judge. Supporters contend these remarks were political rhetoric, while authorities argue they amounted to incitement. The situation illustrates the fraught clash between political movements and state institutions as Pakistan navigates governance and rule-of-law questions.