Pakistan’s Ex-Prime Minister Imran Khan arrested. Police in Pakistan’s capital city of Islamabad detained the country’s former Prime Minister, Imran Khan, on Tuesday, as confirmed by his spokesperson. Khan, who now serves as an opposition leader, was arrested upon arrival at the Islamabad High Court, where he was due to attend a hearing for a corruption case against him, according to local broadcaster Geo TV. The 70-year-old has faced numerous legal proceedings since his ousting from office over a year ago. Witnesses claimed that as soon as Khan entered the court’s compound, armored vehicles and officers in full riot gear appeared on the scene, with gates leading to the court reportedly blocked. Khan was escorted out of the building under heavy security.Video footage allegedly taken at the location depicts the politician being escorted towards an armored SUV by around several dozen law enforcement officials who carried batons, sticks, and shields. Islamabad Police announced on Twitter that the politician had been detained in relation to a corruption case. However, Imran Khan’s spokesperson Raoof Hasan stated to Al Jazeera that his detention was unlawful. Hasan argued that “He was taken away from inside the court before he could appear before the judges, which is in violation of all laws.”
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party led by Imran Khan has accused the government of overstepping the “red line” by “kidnapping” their leader, and has urged supporters to take to the streets, stating in a tweet: “It’s your time, people of Pakistan. Khan has always stood for you, now it’s time to stand for him.” The call to protest was heeded, with reports of demonstrations emerging from provincial capitals of Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar, and other major cities.
Although PTI urged the protesters to remain peaceful, clashes have erupted in various locations. The media has reported that the police employed tear gas to disperse crowds in Karachi, while in Lahore, Khan’s hometown, a water cannon was used. The PTI has also alleged that one protester was shot in Faisalabad.
In the meantime, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah has maintained that Khan’s detention was carried out “in compliance with the law,” at the behest of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), which is “an autonomous institution.”
According to Geo TV, Imran Khan was already scheduled to attend an anti-corruption court hearing on Wednesday.
Aside from being a former cricket star, Khan served as Pakistan’s Prime Minister from 2018 until he was removed from his position following a no-confidence vote in April 2022. He has claimed that he was ousted due to a US-led “international conspiracy” and accused his opponents of receiving funding from foreign entities.
Khan has since been actively attempting to regain power, organizing large-scale rallies with his supporters all over the country. In November of last year, the former PM survived an assassination attempt during an event in the city of Wazirabad when several bullets were fired at him. He sustained a non-life-threatening leg injury as a result.