Imran Khan arrested after being sentenced to three years in prison

Former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan Photo: AAMIR QURESHI/AFP

Imran Khan was arrested at his home in According to his lawyers , in Lahore after a court sentenced him to three years in prison for illegally selling government gifts.

Legal experts say a guilty verdict in this case could shatter the former Pakistani prime minister's hopes of getting involved in national elections due before early November.

Khan's political party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), said in a statement that they had already filed an appeal with the country's Supreme Court over the district court case.

Police surrounded Khan's residence in Lahore after the verdict was announced, local media reported.

The verdict relates to an investigation by the Electoral Commission, which found Khan guilty of illegally selling government gifts during his tenure as prime minister from 2018 to 2022.

Khan denies any wrongdoing.

The 70-year-old cricketer-turned-politician has been accused of abuse of office. Prime Minister for the purchase and sale of official gifts received during visits abroad, worth more than 140 million Pakistani rupees (nearly 500,000 pounds sterling).