The supporters of Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party blocked the streets and chanted slogans in his favour. They also pelted stones at the police who responded with tear gas and water cannons. The clashes lasted for several hours and resulted in injuries on both sides. Some arrests were also made by the police.
The warrant against Khan was issued on Monday, March 13, 2023, by an Islamabad sessions court for his persistent absences in the Toshakhana (gift depository) case. The case pertains to allegations that Khan and other former prime ministers Nawaz Sharif and Yousuf Raza Gilani had illegally obtained luxury vehicles and other valuables from foreign leaders when they were in office.
According to the prosecution, Khan had received two BMW cars worth Rs 40 million each from Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi and UAE Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in 2007 and 2008 respectively. He had allegedly paid only 15 per cent of their value as duty and kept them for his personal use instead of depositing them in the Toshakhana.
Khan has denied any wrongdoing and claimed that he had returned the cars to their original owners after using them for a few months. He has also accused the government of Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif of victimising him for political reasons. He has challenged the warrant in the Islamabad High Court and sought interim bail.
Khan's PTI party has also condemned the police action and called it an attempt to sabotage their planned rally on March 23, 2023, in Islamabad. The rally is expected to be a show of strength by Khan who aims to mobilise public support for his demand of early elections. He has alleged that Shahbaz Sharif's government is illegitimate and corrupt and should resign immediately.
The political situation in Pakistan is tense as Khan faces mounting legal troubles while refusing to back down from his agitation against Shahbaz Sharif's government.