Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has been arrested on corruption charges. He was arrested by dozens of paramilitaries at the Islamabad High Court. Unrest is feared to break out in the country after Khan’s party called for nationwide protests.
Thousands of Pakistanis took to the streets in cities such as Islamabad, Karachi, Peshawar and Lahore, the former prime minister’s hometown. Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party claims on Twitter that a “red line” has been crossed with his arrest. “Take to the streets and save Pakistan”, the PTI asks sympathizers. Roads were blocked in several places by Khan sympathizers, Reuters reported.
Wounded in protest
Khan is a former cricketing hero turned politician. In April 2022, he was ousted as prime minister by parliament. However, he himself claims that it was an illegal impeachment procedure. Since then he has been actively involved in politics. He also regularly invites his followers to protest against the government. In November last year he was injured in an attack during a protest march. Attempts were made earlier to arrest Khan but this was prevented by supporters who clashed with the authorities.
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Khan’s arrest comes at a time when the country is facing a severe economic crisis, record inflation and weak economic growth. Pakistan has also been waiting for months for an emergency fund from the International Monetary Fund.
Source: BNR
Sharon Rock is an author and journalist who writes for 24 News Globe. She has a passion for learning about different cultures and understanding the complexities of the world. With a talent for explaining complex global issues in an accessible and engaging way, Sharon has become a respected voice in the field of world news journalism.
