Unrest and riots grip Pakistan following arrest of former PM Imran Khan

Army troops have been deployed in Punjab and Khyber Pukhtunkhwa provinces to control the escalating chaos following Khan's arrest.

The clashes have resulted in at least eight confirmed deaths, although Khan's party claims the toll is much higher.

Protesters affiliated with Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party stormed the offices of Radio Pakistan in Peshawar, leading to further violence.

Additional confrontations have been reported in Quetta, with claims of approximately 50 deaths and over 1,000 arrests by PTI.

Security forces have arrested numerous PTI supporters across different cities, and clashes with police have left 157 officers injured.

As a precautionary measure, schools were closed, and limited internet access was enforced to control communication channels and curb the unrest.

Imran Khan, a former national cricket star and once a popular politician in Pakistan, was removed from power through a no-confidence vote in parliament last year.

Despite his ousting, he continues to maintain significant popularity. Khan ascended to power in 2018 with the support of the country's influential military. However, he has since experienced a significant rift with the army's leadership, openly accusing a senior officer of conspiring to assassinate him.

During his recent arrest on Tuesday, Khan was attending court proceedings related to multiple corruption charges filed by the Islamabad police.

As he arrived at the court, a group of National Accountability Bureau agents, accompanied by paramilitary troops, forcefully entered the courtroom. Khan's guards declined to open the door, resulting in the agents resorting to breaking windows to gain access.

On Wednesday, Pakistan's military responded to the ongoing unrest by condemning the attacks on army property and installations, labeling them a "dark period" for the country.

The military asserted its commitment to upholding the rule of law and stated that it would not permit any individuals to engage in vigilante justice.

Regarding Imran Khan's arrest, the army acknowledged that it was carried out in accordance with the National Accountability Bureau's statement and the law.

The military referred to the rioters protesting against Khan's detention as "miscreants" who were exploiting the nation's sentiments to further their own narrow and self-centered objectives. (ILKHA)