Top leaders of Imran Khan’s party arrested in Pakistan amid protests
- Pakistani police arrested several leaders from Imran Khan's opposition party after a protest demanding his release turned violent.
- The protest, which took place near Islamabad, saw clashes between supporters and police, resulting in injuries to officers.
- The arrests have been criticized as a politically motivated response to the significant public support for Khan.
On Monday, Pakistani police arrested several prominent leaders from Imran Khan's opposition party, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), following violent clashes during a protest demanding Khan's release. The arrests occurred a day after a largely peaceful demonstration turned chaotic near Islamabad, where supporters clashed with police. Among those detained was Gohar Khan, the party president, who was accused of inciting violence. The PTI reported multiple ongoing raids but did not specify the total number of arrests. The protest was significant, drawing tens of thousands of supporters who rallied against Khan's imprisonment, which has lasted nearly a year due to a graft case. The situation escalated when some protesters clashed with law enforcement, resulting in injuries to several police officers. PTI leaders, during the protest, issued a two-week ultimatum for Khan's release, threatening further action if their demands were not met. Authorities indicated that charges would be filed against Ali Amin, a key PTI official, for his role in inciting violence. His current whereabouts remain uncertain, raising concerns about his safety. Khan, despite facing numerous legal challenges, continues to maintain a strong support base, which has prompted criticism of the government's actions as politically motivated. Zulfi Bukhari, Khan's spokesman, condemned the arrests, labeling them a reaction to the large turnout at the protest. He emphasized that the arrests were a direct response to the party's firm stance on demanding Khan's release, highlighting the ongoing tensions between the PTI and the current government led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.