The Pakistani army referred to Tuesday as a “dark day” and threatened protestors of “severe retaliation” in the event that they continued to assault military and public property.
According to local press sources, protests over the dramatic arrest of former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan continued today around the country, entered a not-guilty plea to charges of corruption, chaos persisted in Pakistan. claiming the lives of at least eight people and wounding over 100 more. Fawad Chaudhry and Asad Umar were among the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders detained by Khan’s government.
Khan was taken into custody on Tuesday in the late afternoon and turned over to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) yesterday. He will be detained for eight days in connection with the Al-Qadir Trust case.
Over 100 corruption charges have been filed against Mr. Khan since he left government, including this one. He had evaded capture for months, with his followers at times engaging in fierce conflict with the police to keep him from being taken into jail.
Sher Afzal Marwat, one of Mr Khan’s solicitors, claimed that his client was in high spirits.
In the midst of violent rallies around the country, Mr. Khan’s followers stormed the corps commander’s mansion in Lahore. They broke chandeliers and stole items like peacocks, strawberries, and golf equipment that they said were purchased with “citizens’ money.” Numerous automobiles and public facilities were set on fire.
On Wednesday, demonstrators and police engaged in physical altercations in the midst of one of Islamabad’s main thoroughfares. According to the authorities, these clashes have injured more than 145 police officers.
“Until they release Imran, or until we die, we will continue our protest. Otherwise, the entire nation will be shut down.” At least one person has been targeted in the city of Quetta, where protests are rising nationally. In the two days after his detention, Mr. Khan’s followers abroad have also planned protests. Local media said that PTI supporters had attacked Mr. Sharif’s home in Lahore in the early hours of Wednesday by setting vehicles on fire and throwing petrol bombs.
The “rule of law” has been demanded by the United States and the United Kingdom. Shehbaz Sharif, the prime minister of Pakistan, warned the country on television that violent demonstrations would not be allowed. “The perpetrators who take the law into their own hands will be dealt with an iron hand,” he declared.
The Pakistani army has had a significant effect on the nuclear-armed nation throughout the most of its history and is an important role in the background.
Imran Khan of Pakistan has been suspected of what? Pakistan
According to many critics, Mr. Khan’s victory in the 2018 election was made possible by the military. However, Mr. Khan has emerged as one of the military’s most outspoken opponents since being removed from the position of premier.
Imran Khan, the Prime Minister, is accused of misappropriating public funds, improperly allocating contracts, and showing favouritism. An arrest warrant was issued after the NAB had gathered significant evidence to back up these accusations. The Prime Minister, however, has angrily refuted all charges, branding his detention as a politically motivated attempt to destabilise his administration and its reforming programme.
There were several large-scale and violent rallies all around Pakistan. As he entered the grounds of the Islamabad High Court to attend the hearing of the Al-Qadir Trust case, the head of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) was detained. The difficult burden of handling the resulting political ramifications while seeking to retain efficient government now lies with the ruling party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). The opposition has increased its calls for the resignation of the whole administration, placing extra pressure on the ruling party.
An attorney for the PTI said that during the arrest, the Rangers had physically assaulted the former Prime Minister, other employees present in the room, and members of Khan’s security detail. Imran Khan was allegedly tortured by the Rangers, who also tossed away his wheelchair and used rods to strike him on the head and crippled leg (Khan was wounded after being fired at in November 2022).
As word of the arrest spread, both pro- and anti-Prime Minister rallies took place around the nation as a result of public outrage. Although more security guards have been sent out by the government to keep the peace, the atmosphere is still tight and unstable.
Due to the events, mobile and internet services have been interrupted nationwide. In some areas of Pakistan, access to social media platforms including Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube has been curtailed, according to Dawn. “Total internet shutdowns have been observed in some regions,” the news outlet stated.
New travel warnings, advocating care, have been released by nations like the United States, Britain, and Canada. During a news conference, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated: “We just want to make sure that whatever happens in Pakistan is consistent with the rule of law and with the constitution.”