Former Pakistan Prime Minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan was arrested by Pakistan Rangers outside the Islamabad High Court on May 9, 2023, according to Dawn news. PTI officials claim that Khan was pushed by the Rangers during the arrest, resulting in his injury. NAB Rawalpindi issued the arrest warrant on May 1 and has now been executed by the Rangers in Islamabad.
Background
After being removed from his position as Prime Minister in April of the previous year through a no-confidence vote, Imran Khan has been linked to more than one hundred incidents. He believes the US-led conspiracy was aimed at him because of his independent foreign policy decisions regarding Russia, China, and Afghanistan. He has consistently claimed that he was ousted from power because he refused to be a puppet of the United States.
PTI’s Response
PTI Vice President Fawad Chaudhry took to Twitter and said that the IHC has been “occupied by the Rangers” and that lawyers “are being subjected to torture.” Another PTI leader, Azhar Mashwani, alleged that Imran had been “abducted” from inside the court by the Rangers. PTI leader Ch Fawad Hussain also took to Twitter and claimed that Imran Khan had been “whisked away by unknown people to an unknown location.” The Chief Justice of the Islamabad High Court has ordered the Secretary of Interior and IG Police to appear within 15 minutes in the court.
Reports of Torture
Reports confirm that the Islamabad Police has imposed Section 144 in the capital city, and the police claim that no one was tortured during Imran Khan’s arrest. However, PTI officials have claimed that scores of lawyers and general people were tortured during the detention. The situation in Islamabad remains tense as the PTI supporters continue to protest against the arrest.
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Unsuccessful Attempts to Arrest Imran Khan
Imran Khan’s arrest follows several unsuccessful attempts, including a police raid at his Zaman Park residence in Lahore which he managed to evade successfully. His supporters had accused the government of trying to silence him ahead of the upcoming general elections.
Pakistan Army’s Reaction
On Monday, the Pakistan Army lashed out at the former Prime Minister, saying that the PTI chief has leveled a “highly irresponsible and baseless allegation” against a serving senior military officer without any evidence, according to Tribune news. The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement that this fabricated and malicious allegation is extremely unfortunate, deplorable, and unacceptable. The Military and Intelligence agencies officials are being targeted with insinuations and sensational propaganda for the furtherance of political objectives.
Conclusion
The arrest of Imran Khan has caused a lot of tension in Pakistan, with his supporters claiming that he was unfairly targeted by the government. Meanwhile, the government has denied any wrongdoing and has urged the people to remain calm. The situation in Islamabad remains tense as the PTI supporters continue to protest against the arrest.
Source: IndiaToday
