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Protests rock Pakistan cities after ex-president Imran Khan's arrest in Al-Qadir Trust case

by Trans World Features | @twfindia 09 May 2023, 10:19 am

Islamabad/IBNS: Violent protests broke out on Tuesday evening across Pakistan, including Lahore, Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Faisalabad, and Karachi among other places, after former PM Imran Khan was arrested from the Islamabad High Court (IHC), triggering a new political conflict in the country.

The protests have been unleashed by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) cadres, who resorted to stone pelting on houses, offices, and vehicles, burning banners and tires, and blocking roads. In Faisalabad, a mob pelted stones on Rana Sanaullah’s house.

PTI workers also broke into Pakistan's General Headquarters and Corps Commander's Lahore house over Khan's arrest.

“After the attacks on GHQ (General Headquarters) and Corps Commander's Lahore house, anything can happen now. The first target is to deal with the rioters, perpetrators and those who spread them. Time is short and conditions are very bad," prominent journalist Talat Hussain said.

In Rawalpindi, protesters also smashed the main gate of the army’s headquarters. Hundreds of demonstrators shouted pro-Khan slogans as they moved toward the sprawling building.

In the port city of Karachi, police resorted to baton charges and fired tear gas to disperse hundreds of Khan supporters who had gathered on a key road.

Meanwhile, a medical board led by Dr. Fareed Ullah Shah has arrived at the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Rawalpindi office to conduct a medical checkup on the detained PTI Chairman.

The PTI chairman was arrested as part of NAB’s investigation in the Al-Qadir Trust case ahead of his appearance before the IHC to seek bail in multiple FIRs registered against him, reports Geo News.

According to reports, Rangers personnel driving a black Toyota Hilux Vigo whisked away Imran Khan to NAB Rawalpindi.

It appears Khan got wind of his arrest hours earlier as before leaving for the court the PTI chief was quoted as saying by Geo News: “If someone has a warrant, they should directly bring it to me. Bring the warrant, my lawyer will be there. I’m ready to go to jail myself.”

“There is no case against me. I’m mentally prepared to be arrested. If I have to go to jail, I’m ready,” Khan said.

According to Geo News, the PTI chairman was in the IHC's biometric verification department when he was nabbed by paramilitary men. The NAB officials had arrest warrants.

Khan’s warrants were issued on May 1 by NAB chairman Lt Gen (retd) Nazir Ahmad Butt.

NAB in a statement said Khan was booked under Section 9A of the National Accountability Ordinance 1999.

"The arrest was ordered and implemented by the NAB," the accountability watchdog said in a statement, adding, "Rangers troops were deployed for the action on the orders of the Ministry of the Interior".

The statement made it clear that the Rangers did not detain Khan, while Section 144 was already imposed in the federal capital, reports Geo News.