Pakistan burns after Imran Khan’s arrest

Next 48 hours in Pakistan are tipped to be extremely crucial as there are chances of coup within the army establishment as well

| Updated: 09 May, 2023 11:28 pm IST
Many police vehicles have been set ablaze by the PTI protesters

SRINAGAR (J&K): Former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan was arrested by Rangers paramilitary force at Islamabad High Court on Tuesday, in a dramatic move that has resulted in fresh turmoil in the country as protests erupted in multiple cities across Pakistan on his party’s call.

The former Prime Minister was arrested in the Al-Qadir Trust case, added the federal capital’s top cop. “Situation is normal. Section 144 is in place and violations will result in police action,” said IG Islamabad.

Khan’s arrest comes a day after the military warned him against making “baseless allegations” after he again accused a senior officer of plotting to kill him. The development happens at a time when both Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and COAS General Asim Munir are out of the country.

Meanwhile, widespread protests have broken out in Pakistan. PTI supporters have ransacked the GHQ office in Rawalpindi and also set ablaze the house of the Corps Commander in Lahore. The Inter Service Intelligence (ISI) office in the city of Faisalabad has also been attacked by the protesters.

The protesters, including women armed with batons and petrol bombs, are fighting pitched battles with police and paramilitary forces in different cities of Pakistan. Many police vehicles have been set ablaze by the protesters in Lahore.

The government of Pakistan is considering declaring a state of emergency in Pakistan, with the Pakistani army set to commence a flag march in Pakistan. The next 48 hours in Pakistan are tipped to be extremely crucial, as sources within the Pakistani army are indicating that there are chances of a coup within the army establishment as well.

Sources within the Pakistan Army claimed that General Sahir Shamshad Mirza, the current Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC), may potentially lead a takeover of the army against General Asim Munir. General Mirza was overlooked for the appointment of COAS and is considered to be an Imran Khan loyalist.

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