'May not get the chance to talk to you again': Imran Khan to Pakistanis in pre-recorded video

A video of Pakistan's former Prime Minister Imran Khan, which was recorded in 2022, has been released on his social media accounts in which he tells the people that he may not get the chance to talk to them again.

Photo Credit: Pakistan's former Prime Minister Imran Khan

"My fellow Pakistanis, when these words of mine reach you I will already be closed inside in an unlawful case. After this, you all should realise that fundamental rights, law and democracy have been buried. Maybe it is possible that I won't get a chance to talk to you again. That's why I want to talk about two-three things," Dawn quoted the chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) as saying.

In the clip, he claims that the people of Pakistan have known him for 50 years and he has never gone against the country's Constitution. "I've never broken the law. Since I've been in politics, I have always tried that [all] my struggle would be peaceful and within the ambits of the Constitution," the former premier said.

The video was released after his arrest by paramilitary Rangers on Tuesday. He was at the Islamabad High Court over the hearing of a corruption case when the officers arrested him.

"What is being done today is not because I have broken any law but only for me to step back from the haqeeqi azaadi tehreek. It is being done so that I accept this corrupt cabal of crooks that have been imposed on us. They want me to accept them. I appeal today to everyone that you all have to come out. Freedom is not given on a plate - you have to work hard and struggle for it," Khan said in the video.

He was reportedly undergoing a biometric process at the court when the Rangers broke open the glass window and arrested him after beating lawyers and Khan's security staff, according to senior party leader Shireen Mazari, according to a report.

"Khan has been arrested in a land transfer case to property tycoon Malik Riaz and is being handed over to National Accountability Bureau (NAB)," news agency PTI quoted a NAB official as saying.

"His arrest warrants were issued today morning and subsequently he is arrested," he stated. However, the arrest warrant was issued on May 1.

The National Accountability Bureau has conducted the arrest for causing losses to the national treasury, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah said on Twitter. .

Since his ouster in April 2022 as the Prime Minister, Khan has been facing a slew of cases and he himself has claimed that he has 140 cases related to terrorism, blasphemy, murder, violence, and inciting violence.