Pakistan Army called to maintain law & order after five killed in clashes

The Pakistani government has called upon the army to assist in quelling the violent unrest that has erupted following the arrest of former Prime Minister Imran Khan. Authorities have issued warnings to protesters, urging them to refrain from further attacks on state installations.

The escalating violence has resulted in at least five deaths and has exacerbated the already unstable situation in Pakistan, a country grappling with a severe economic crisis and a delay in receiving an International Monetary Fund bailout since November. Imran Khan, widely regarded as Pakistan’s most popular political leader according to polls, was arrested on Tuesday in connection with a land fraud case. This arrest led to his supporters storming military buildings and vandalizing the residence of a senior army general in Lahore.

Protesters have also targeted various other government buildings and assets, setting them ablaze. In response, the government has granted requests from two provinces, Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, both strongholds of Imran Khan, as well as the federal capital Islamabad, to deploy troops.

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The army has issued a statement expressing restraint during previous instances of violence but has warned that any further attacks on the military, law enforcement agencies, state installations, or properties will be met with severe retaliation.

INDICTMENT OF IMRAN KHAN

As street protests persist, a Pakistani court has remanded Imran Khan, aged 70, into the custody of Pakistan’s anti-graft body, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), for eight days of further questioning, as confirmed by government adviser Ataullah Tarar. The former international cricket star is currently being held at a police guesthouse in Islamabad.

In a separate development, Khan has been indicted on charges of selling state gifts during his four-year tenure as prime minister. This indictment follows a decision by the Election Commission of Pakistan in October, which found Khan guilty of illegally selling state gifts between 2018 and 2022. As a result, he has been disqualified from holding public office until the next scheduled election in November. Khan vehemently denies any wrongdoing.

Mohsin Shahnawaz Ranjha, a lawmaker from the ruling coalition who filed the case against Khan regarding the state gifts, has accused him of jeopardizing the country’s peace.

Khan’s colleagues in his political party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), have not yet responded to requests for comment on his indictment. Meanwhile, his legal team has lodged a challenge against his arrest in the Supreme Court.

Amid ongoing street protests, mobile data services have been suspended for a second day. Federal ministers have accused Khan’s supporters of setting fire to several buildings and vehicles.

According to a hospital official, at least four people died in clashes in the northwestern city of Peshawar on Wednesday, while another protester lost their life during Tuesday’s disturbances. The police have reported the arrest of over a thousand protesters engaged in violence in Khan’s home province of Punjab.

Imran Khan, a former cricket hero-turned-politician, was removed from office in April 2022 through a parliamentary no-confidence vote. Despite sustaining injuries in a November attack on his convoy during a protest march to Islamabad, he has persisted in his campaign against his ouster.

These corruption cases represent just a fraction of the over 100 cases registered against Khan following his departure from office. Convictions in most of these cases could lead to his disqualification from holding public office.

CONFLICT BETWEEN KHAN AND THE MILITARY

Khan’s arrest came one day after he faced criticism from the powerful military for repeatedly accusing a senior military officer of plotting his assassination and holding the former army chief responsible for his removal from power last year.

The military has vehemently denied Khan’s allegations.

The armed forces remain the most influential institution in Pakistan, having directly ruled the country