Pakistan police arrest dozens of supporters of former PM Imran Khan
Supporters of Khan's party, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), clashed with police in the city of Lahore last week as they attempted to arrest him at his home, and later with police in Islamabad as he arrived to appear before a court on Saturday.
Supporters of former Prime Minister Imran Khan gather outside of the Khan house in Lahore, Pakistan. Photo- AP
Lahore: Police in Pakistan have arrested dozens of supporters and aides of former Prime Minister Imran Khan in raids in two cities as part of a crackdown on those involved in recent clashes with the security forces, Khan’s party and police said on Monday.
Supporters of Khan’s party, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), clashed with police in the city of Lahore last week as they attempted to arrest him at his home, and later with police in Islamabad as he arrived to appear before a court on Saturday.
“Around 285 PTI supporters have been arrested in Lahore and Islamabad. Houses of all major leaders were raided by police last night,” Khan’s aide, Fawad Chaudhry, told Reuters.
Khan, a former cricket star, was prime minister from 2018 until 2022, when he was ousted from office in a parliamentary vote. Since then he has been demanding a snap election and holding protest rallies across the country to press his case.
His successor as prime minister, Shehbaz Sharif, has rejected his demand and said an election would be held as scheduled later this year.
Khan, 70, is facing several legal cases, including one that prompted a failed attempt to arrest him on Tuesday after a court issued warrants for his arrest for not appearing before it.
Clashes between Khan’s supporters and the security forces have brought a new round of political chaos to Pakistan, which is in the midst of a crippling economic crisis.
Khan says the government and the powerful military are trying to stop him from contesting the next election, scheduled for November. If convicted in a case, Khan could face disqualification from the polls.
Both the government and military deny this.
Police in both Lahore and Islamabad confirmed the raids and the arrest of PTI workers they said were involved in clashes with police and arson.
Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News,
India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
also read
Pakistan: Former PM Imran Khan says 80 per cent chance of my arrest on Tuesday
The PTI Chief accused former Army Chief Qamar Javed Bajwa of attempting to destabilise his government, saying that he doesn't understand why the latter attempted to destabilise him.
Former Pakistan PM Imran Khan gets luxury tax notice worth Pkr 14 lakhs for Lahore residence
Imran Khan, the cricketer-turned-politician, was ousted from power in April last year after losing a no-confidence vote in his leadership, which he alleged was part of a US-led conspiracy targeting him because of his independent foreign policy decisions on Russia, China and Afghanistan.
Pakistan heading towards imminent disaster, may face East Pakistan-like situation, says Imran Khan
In a video-link address from his Zaman Park residence in Lahore, the 70-year-old Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief said the only solution to end political instability was to hold elections