Hours after the arrest of former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan on Tuesday, the US said it is aware of what happened in Islamabad but has no position on any political candidate or party. Earlier, in a joint press conference, the US and the UK called for adherence to the “rule of law” in Pakistan. “We just want to make sure that whatever happens in Pakistan is consistent with the rule of law, with the constitution,” said US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. “We want to see a peaceful democracy in this country. We want the rule of law to be upheld,” said UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly.
Imran Khan was arrested on Tuesday and was denied bail by the high court.
Imran Khan was arrested around 2.15 pm in the Al-Qadir Trust case after arriving at the Islamabad high court to attend the hearings.
This is what happened after Imran Khan was arrested:
1. PTI workers and supporters of Imran Khan protested across the country after the arrest. They stormed the headquarters of the Pakistani army in Rawalpindi and the residence of the corps commanders in Lahore.
2. Similar protests will be held on Wednesday amid calls for mobilization by PTI supporters inside and outside Pakistan.
3. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has ordered party leaders, workers and supporters to assemble at the Judicial Complex in Islamabad at 8 am this Wednesday.
4. Imran Khan spent the night in jail as the Islamabad high court declared Imran Khan’s non-bailable detention legal. The high court’s decision will be challenged in the Supreme Court today.
5. In the Al-Qadir Trust case, Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi have been accused of receiving billions of rupees from a real estate company to legalize an amount of money laundering. ₹50 billion
6. Amid violent protests, internet services were suspended in the country. Amnesty International appealed to the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority to restore services.
7. Former Pakistan cricket captain Wasim Akram backed Imran Khan. “You are one man but you have the strength of millions. Be strong patron,” Akram tweeted. Indian politician (Rajya Sabha MP) Priyanka Chaturvedi called the situation in Pakistan a “disaster”. “What a wasted country Pakistan has turned out to be. A disaster in our neighborhood,” Chaturvedi wrote.
8. PTI supporters claimed that Imran Khan was tortured while in custody. He was kidnapped, taken away and hit on the head, PTi supporters claimed.
