Imran Khan continues to hold rallies across Pakistan, such as this one last week in Lahore. EPA
Imran Khan continues to hold rallies across Pakistan, such as this one last week in Lahore. EPA
Imran Khan continues to hold rallies across Pakistan, such as this one last week in Lahore. EPA
Imran Khan continues to hold rallies across Pakistan, such as this one last week in Lahore. EPA

Pakistan's ex-prime minister Imran Khan leads rally, ignoring arrest warrants


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Former Pakistani prime minister Imran Khan rallied thousands of supporters in eastern Pakistan on Monday as courts in the capital Islamabad issued two more arrest warrants for him over his failure to appear before judges in graft and terrorism cases.

Since he was ousted last April in a no-confidence vote in parliament, Mr Khan has routinely ignored arrest warrants in a string of cases against him, describing them as a plot orchestrated by the government of his successor, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, to discredit him.

Mr Khan is seeking permission to skip a court hearing at which he is expected to be formally charged for selling state gifts while in power.

Details of state gifts bought by many of the country's elite were released on Sunday.

His lawyer Khawaja Harris has filed for an exemption, AFP reported, citing risks to Mr Khan's life after an assassination attempt at a rally in November.

He blamed intelligence chiefs and Mr Sharif for orchestrating the attack, in which the former prime minister was shot when his convoy came under fire in eastern Punjab province.

Police attempted to arrest Mr Khan last week after he failed to attend a court hearing for a case over alleged corruption during his time in office, when he was accused of selling gifts received from foreign dignitaries.

Under Pakistani law, he cannot be formally charged without appearing in court.

Almost 500 pages of inventory were published by the cabinet on Sunday, detailing gifts received by officials including Mr Khan, Mr Sharif, President Arif Alvi and former military ruler Pervez Musharraf, among others.

According to the documents, also shared by Dawn News, Mr Khan received several high-value watches from the state treasury, including six Rolexes, at a concession rate. He is accused of hiding profits made while later selling the items.

His wife was also said to have kept jewellery worth more than $61,000.

Mr Khan has been beset by legal challenges since being ousted in a vote of no confidence in April — the first Pakistani PM to be driven from power in this way.

His supporters have held regular protests against official decisions barring him from holding public office over the scandal.

The electoral commission disqualified Mr Khan after he made “false statements and incorrect declarations” regarding the gifts he received.

He has continued to hold rallies regardless and has travelled across the country to demand snap elections in marches attracting thousands of people.

Pakistan's media authority has since banned TV channels from airing live or pre-recorded footage of his speeches.

The Electronic Media Regulatory Authority accused him of “spreading hate speech” that could “disturb public peace”.

Any channels found to be in breach of the rules will have their licences suspended, it said.

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Date started: 2012

Founder: Amir Barsoum

Based: Dubai, UAE

Sector: HealthTech / MedTech

Size: 300 employees

Funding: $22.6 million (as of September 2018)

Investors: Technology Development Fund, Silicon Badia, Beco Capital, Vostok New Ventures, Endeavour Catalyst, Crescent Enterprises’ CE-Ventures, Saudi Technology Ventures and IFC

At a glance

Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.

 

Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year

 

Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month

 

Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30 

 

Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse

 

Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth

 

Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances

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Tearful appearance

Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday. 

Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow. 

She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.

A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The burning issue

The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.

Part three: an affection for classic cars lives on

Read part two: how climate change drove the race for an alternative 

Read part one: how cars came to the UAE

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2016: Cleveland bt Golden State 4-3
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2014: San Antonio bt Miami 4-1
2013: Miami bt San Antonio 4-3
2012: Miami bt Oklahoma City 4-1
2011: Dallas bt Miami 4-2
2010: Los Angeles Lakers bt Boston 4-3
2009: Los Angeles Lakers bt Orlando 4-1
2008: Boston bt Los Angeles Lakers 4-2

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Started: April 2017

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Investment: approximately $80 million

Investors include: Dubai’s Beco Capital, US’s Endeavor Catalyst, China’s MSA, Egypt’s Sawari Ventures, Sweden’s Vostok New Ventures, Property Finder CEO Michael Lahyani

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Started: October 2023
Founder: Namrata Raina
Based: Dubai
Sector: E-commerce
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Rating: 4/5

Updated: March 13, 2023, 4:49 PM`