Pakistan police arrest lawmakers, leaders from former PM Imran Khan’s party

Police in Pakistan have arrested several lawmakers and leaders from former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s party during a series of raids in Islamabad, according to party officials and authorities.

On Tuesday, a police spokesperson confirmed that four people were detained. However, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) claimed that 13 individuals were arrested from various locations in the capital, including some outside parliament.

These arrests follow a large PTI rally held on Sunday, which called for the release of the 71-year-old cricketer-turned-politician, who has been in jail for over a year.

The crackdown began late on Monday with the arrest of PTI president Gohar Khan. Khan was ousted as prime minister in 2022 following a dispute with military generals, who largely determine leadership in the 241-million-strong nation.

Media footage showed police transporting the detained lawmakers from outside parliament, a scene described as “despicable” by opposition leader Omar Ayub Khan.

Following the arrests, Khan’s aide Zulfikar Bukhari, who is also a PTI spokesman, criticized the detentions as illegal and claimed that the recent massive protest had unsettled the government. He also named senior PTI leaders Shoaib Shaheen and Sher Afzal Marwat among those detained.

In February, PTI-backed candidates won the most seats in a general election but did not secure the majority needed to form a government. Subsequently, a coalition led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was established.

The rally demanding Khan’s release was marred by clashes between supporters and police, which resulted in injuries to a senior police official. PTI stated that the violence erupted after police used tear gas to disperse what they described as a peaceful assembly.

Some PTI leaders, including Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, criticized the ruling alliance and military in their speeches at the rally. Gandapur warned against any attempt at a military trial for Khan, stating, “Put your house in order” and “I am not scared of the army uniform.”

Information Minister Attaullah Tarar accused Gandapur of threatening to free Khan by force and inciting violence among his supporters.

In a statement on X, PTI quoted Khan expressing gratitude to his supporters for their peaceful rally, saying: “You have all broken the shackles of fear to stand up & fight.”