There have been 1,400 arrests and at least eight fatalities nationally as a result of the protests, according to the police.
Following the former prime minister Imran Khan’s Tuesday arrest and subsequent plea of not guilty to corruption, unrest has persisted in Pakistan.
Tensions Rise Amidst Military Involvement
The army has been brought in to stop the fighting and has issued warnings to the demonstrators not to attack government buildings.
During a period of economic difficulty, Mr. Khan’s imprisonment sharply increased tensions between him and the military.
The former international cricket star, who served as Pakistan’s prime minister from 2018 to 2022, will be permanently barred from running for office if convicted. Later this year, elections are scheduled.
For the majority of its existence, Pakistan’s army has had a significant influence on the nuclear-armed nation and plays an important role in the background.
Many analysts think the military played a role in Mr. Khan’s victory in the 2018 election. But since losing his position as premier, Mr. Khan has emerged as one of the military’s most outspoken detractors.
Imran Khan Faces Legal Battle as Corruption Allegations Mount
In a lawsuit brought by Pakistan’s Election Commission on Wednesday, Mr. Khan was accused on allegations that he illegally sold state gifts while serving as prime minister. Mr. Khan denied doing anything improper.
Dramatic video from the day before showed dozens of security guards dragging the 70-year-old out of court, where he was present for unrelated graft trials, and loading him into a police car.
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party of Mr. Khan described his detention in the nation’s capital Islamabad as a “abduction” and vowed to dispute the validity of the arrest in court.
Mr. Khan must remain in detention for eight days as per the judge’s decision before he may apply for bail.
Over 100 corruption cases have been filed against Mr. Khan since he left government, including this one. He had evaded capture for months, with his supporters at times engaging in fierce conflict with the police to keep him from being taken into custody.
Violent Unrest Engulfs Pakistan as Protests Escalate
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, the BBC saw demonstrators and police fighting in the middle of a major highway in Islamabad. According to the authorities, these clashes have injured more than 145 police officers.
A man, holding stones and a stick and wearing a surgical mask, informed the BBC that they had come for a peaceful protest but were being attacked by the police. He stated that they would continue the protest until either Imran is released or they will bring the entire country to a halt.
Following the arrest of Imran, supporters of Mr. Khan residing overseas also organised protests in the two days that followed.
During a televised address to the nation, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif issued a warning that violent protests would not be tolerated. He emphasised that those who take the law into their own hands would face severe consequences.
