In a series of violent clashes that ensued following the arrest of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan, at least 8 individuals lost their lives and nearly 290 more were injured.
The arrest came after an accountability court in Islamabad granted custody of Imran Khan to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) for eight days in relation to the Al Qadir Trust case. As tensions escalated, protests erupted across the country, leading to widespread chaos and damage to government property.
Amid the escalating violence, prominent PTI leaders, including Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Fawad Chaudhry, and Asad Umar, were taken into custody by authorities within 24 hours of Imran Khan’s arrest. The arrests were made as part of the government’s efforts to tighten its grip on the party following nationwide protests.
Qureshi’s arrest took place in the early hours of Thursday after a police raid on the Gilgit-Baltistan House in Islamabad. Other PTI leaders, such as Jamshed Iqbal Cheema, FalakNazChitrali, MussaratJamshed Cheema, and MaleekaBukhari, were also among those detained.
“All arrests were carried out after completing the legal requirements,” the spokesperson said, cautioning that additional arrests may follow.
Prior to his arrest, Shah Mahmood Qureshi had reportedly encouraged PTI supporters to persist in their pursuit of true freedom in the country. Police sources revealed that the former foreign minister had been apprehended in connection with cases of riots and arson in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Throughout the second day of protests, clashes between law enforcement agencies and PTI supporters turned increasingly violent. Police stations and government installations, including a police office in Islamabad, a police station in Lahore, Radio Pakistan’s building in Peshawar, and Scouts Fort in Chakkdara, Lower Dir, were set ablaze by angry mobs.
The deteriorating situation prompted the government to deploy the military in Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Islamabad in an attempt to restore order.
In response to the attacks on army property, the military’s media wing issued a strong statement, denouncing the actions of the political group and criticizing their utilization of the public for their own interests.