Pakistan’s former prime minister, Imran Khan has been arrested after a court in Islamabad found him guilty of “corrupt practices” involving the sale of state gifts and sentenced him to three years in jail.

Police officers from the Islamabad force swooped in on his home in Lahore on Saturday and arrested him, taking him to jail by helicopter.

Judge Humayun Dilawa says that Khan’s dishonesty has been established beyond doubt.

In a video message released after his arrest, Khan called on his supporters “not to sit at home in silence” and stand out for him. He called them to continue their peaceful protests until their rights to justice and freedom are restored. But Punjab police have already arrested ten of Khan’s protesting supporters.

The former premier has repeatedly said the mounting cases against him are politically motivated and intended to stop him from running for elections that are due to be held before the end of the year.