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Protests Erupt In Pakistan After Arrest Of Imran Khan; Military Installations Attacked, Including Army Headquarters In Rawalpindi
Protests erupt in Pakistan after the arrest of former Prime Minister Imran Khan.
Violent protests have broken out in different parts of Pakistan following the arrest of former Prime Minister and Tehreek-e-Insaf leader, Imran Khan, from a court in Islamabad on 9 May.
Protesters, who blame the Pakistan Army for the arrest, allege that Khan is being tortured in custody and fear assassination of their leader, which could impede the party's march to power.
PTI supporters have attacked several military installations across the country, including the General Headquarters of the Pakistan Army in Rawalpindi. There are unconfirmed reports of supporters of the former Prime Minister storming the Pakistan Army headquarters in Rawalpindi and the Corps Commander's residence in Lahore.
In Karachi and Lahore, police used tear gas and water cannons to disperse Khan supporters, while protesters blocked roads in Islamabad, Rawalpindi, and Peshawar.
In a statement, Islamabad Police said that Imran was arrested for allegedly receiving billions from a real estate firm to legalize laundered money that the UK returned to Pakistan during the previous PTI government. Khan has denied these claims in the past.
Following Khan's arrest, several party leaders, including Fawad Chaudhry, urged PTI supporters to take to the streets and protest.
"Imran Khan's arrest is the equivalent of shutting down the judiciary," said Chaudhry, a close aide of Khan.
Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, the leader of Awami Muslim League (AML), stated in a video message that Imran Khan would become a "hero" due to the government's "hooliganism". Ahmed echoed the concerns of Khan's supporters and expressed fears about Khan being "slow-poisoned" in detention because the government is incapable of facing him alive.
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