Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan was arrested Saturday after a court sentenced him to three years in prison for improperly selling state gifts, local media reported.
National elections are expected to be held as early as in the fall, but a conviction in the case could prevent Khan, a cricket star-turned-politician, from running for office, regional experts said.
Khan, the main opposition leader, has remained popular in the country. He had been campaigning for early elections and had been at odds with the military establishment, resulting in several criminal cases being brought against him.
The former premier had nearly a year and a half left of his five-year term when he was ousted in April last year on accusations of mismanaging the nation's economy.
