Pakistani PM's close aide arrested in graft case

Pakistan's anti-corruption authorities on Wednesday arrested a senior minister and close aide of Prime Minister Imran Khan in a corruption case which stemmed from whistle-blower Panama Papers, authorities and local media reported.

Aleem Khan, who immediately stepped down from his office following the arrest, has been taken into custody in northeastern Lahore city by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), for allegedly making assets beyond his known income source, the watchdog said in a statement.

He will be produced before an anti-corruption court on Thursday.

Aleem Khan is known to be the main donor of the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party.

His name surfaced in the Panama Papers, along with 450 other Pakistanis, for owning offshore companies.

Analysts see Aleem Khan's arrest as a blow to the ruling party whose election campaign was based on anti-corruption.

It is also likely to recede a growing chorus of criticism against the NAB for carrying out a "one-sided" campaign against opposition leaders.

Nawaz Sharif, former prime minister, is serving a jail term in a corruption case. His brother and opposition party leader Shehbaz Sharif has been in NAB custody for the last four months.