Lahore: Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan was taken into custody at his Lahore home on Saturday after a court in the capital found him guilty of graft and sentenced him to three years in jail, according to police and officials.

The court case is one of several that Khan has faced on charges he claims are politically motivated, following his ousting in a vote of no confidence last year. He was not present during the sentencing.

The ruling by Judge Humayun Dilawar established Khan's involvement in corrupt practices, as reported by Pakistan TV. Shortly after the verdict, police entered his Lahore residence and arrested him. Attaullah Tarar, Special Assistant to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, confirmed the news to reporters.

Earlier in May, Khan was briefly arrested on graft charges in Islamabad, leading to deadly unrest as supporters of his party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), clashed with police in protest. Following his release, PTI has faced a crackdown, with thousands of arrests, alleged intimidation, and press restrictions.

The current case leading to Khan's recent arrest revolves around gifts he received during his tenure as prime minister, which he failed to properly declare. His legal team plans to file an immediate appeal, citing insufficient opportunity to present witnesses or arguments.

Khan has been warning of his potential arrest, believing it to be an attempt to prevent him from participating in the upcoming elections scheduled to take place before the end of the year. Parliament is likely to dissolve after completing its term in the next two weeks, with national elections expected to occur by mid-November or earlier.

In 2018, Khan gained power with widespread support, an anti-corruption agenda, and backing from the influential military establishment. His ousting in April the following year was attributed to the loss of support from top generals. Throughout his re-election campaign, Khan has emphasized the influence of the military behind the scenes—a topic traditionally considered a sensitive subject in Pakistan.