Shabaz Sharif, once the powerful chief minister of Punjab province, was arrested and flown to Karachi early today. He protested his innocence.

Two other Sharif allies, Saeed Mehdi, Sharif's principal secretary and Saif-ur-Rehman, former Chief of Accountability Bureau, were also arrested and brought before the court.

The judge ordered police to produce them again on Friday. If they are convicted in the coming trial they could face the death penalty.