Pakistani court orders arrest of former premier Imran Khan

By MUNIR AHED
Associated Press

ISLAMABAD (AP) — A Pakistani court has issued an arrest warrant for former Prime Minister Imran Khan, as the cricket star-turned-politician called on his supporters to keep up protests amid a roiling political crisis. The court in the capital Islamabad that ordered the former premier’s arrest said Khan had skipped a court hearing on charges of selling state gifts and concealing his assets. The judge’s arrest order came on a day of political drama in Pakistan, as three other courts on Tuesday ruled Khan was immune from arrest on separate charges. Khan has been leading protests for months now calling for early elections to oust the current government of Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif, who says polls will be held later this year when Parliament completes its five-year term.