How Imran Khan's arrest becomes 7th instance of Pakistani PM taken into custody
7 min read . Updated: 10 May 2023, 11:35 AM IST
PremiumKhan's arrest marks the seventh time a former prime minister has been taken into custody in Pakistan. In 1979, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was arrested and later executed.
Imran Khan, the former Prime Minister of Pakistan, was arrested on Tuesday as he appeared in court to face multiple corruption charges.
The arrest of Imran Khan, who remains a prominent opposition figure despite being ousted in a no-confidence vote in April 2022, sparked violent protests by his supporters throughout the country, as reported by The Associated Press.
This latest incident has exacerbated political tensions in Pakistan, which has a history of former prime ministers being arrested and of military interventions in politics.
Khan's arrest marks the seventh time a former prime minister has been taken into custody in Pakistan. In 1979, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was arrested and later executed.
Violent clashes broke out between protesters and the military in several cities across Pakistan, including Quetta, Karachi, Peshawar, Rawalpindi, and Lahore, resulting in at least one death and several injuries.
The capital of Baluchistan province, Quetta, saw one person killed and five others wounded, while approximately 15 people were injured in other cities. Police used tear gas to disperse the demonstrations.
Following the violent protests, social media platforms such as Twitter were blocked and internet services were suspended in Islamabad and other cities, as confirmed by Pakistan's telecommunication authority. Some private schools also announced the cancellation of classes for the following day.
According to Fawad Chaudhry, a senior official of Khan's political party, Imran Khan was forcefully removed from the Islamabad High Court by security agents of the National Accountability Bureau and then taken away in an armoured car.
Chaudhry criticized the arrest of the 71-year-old former cricket player as an "abduction." The independent GEO TV in Pakistan aired footage of Khan being forcibly taken away.
A scuffle broke out between Khan’s supporters and police outside the court. Some of Khan’s lawyers and supporters were injured in the melee, as were several police, Chaudhry said.
According to government officials and police, Khan was taken to the National Accountability Bureau offices in Rawalpindi, near the capital Islamabad, for questioning after his arrest. Police also said that he would undergo a regular medical examination.
Imran Khan had travelled to Islamabad to appear in court to face charges in multiple corruption cases, including terrorism charges.
Khan, who was ousted from power in a no-confidence vote in April 2022, has vehemently denied the charges and accused Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif of orchestrating a politically motivated plot against him.
Khan has also alleged that his ouster was unlawful and part of a Western conspiracy. He has been advocating for early elections and has been actively campaigning against Sharif.
Imran Khan's arrest on Tuesday was made following a new warrant issued by the National Accountability Bureau in a separate graft case for which he had not been granted bail.
Khan's legal team contested the validity of the arrest, but the court ruled in favor of it. However, the court also stated that Khan should not have been taken from the courtroom by force. Khan is expected to appear at an anti-graft tribunal on Wednesday, according to officials.
“Imran Khan has been arrested because he was being sought in a graft case," Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah Khan told a news conference. He alleged Pakistan’s treasury had lost millions of dollars while Khan was in office due to illegal purchases of lands from a business tycoon.
The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) is an influential anti-corruption body in Pakistan that has arrested and investigated previous officials, including prime ministers, politicians, and retired military personnel.
However, some individuals consider the NAB to be a tool employed by those in authority, particularly the military, to suppress political rivals. When Imran Khan was in power, his government utilized the NAB to detain Sharif, who was then the opposition leader.
During a press conference, Law Minister Azam Tarar stated that Imran Khan was arrested because he was not cooperating with the investigations related to corruption charges against him. Tarar also condemned the violent protests carried out by Khan's supporters and emphasized that protests should be conducted in a peaceful manner.
Marriyum Aurangzeb, who was a member of former Prime Minister Sharif's cabinet, issued a statement on Wednesday condemning the violent attacks on military offices and public places by supporters of Imran Khan. Aurangzeb claimed that the attacks were orchestrated by Khan and carried out under his instructions.
Authorities in Punjab have prohibited rallies in the province. Following the news of Khan's arrest, approximately 4,000 of his supporters stormed the official residence of the top regional commander in Lahore, vandalizing the property and staging a sit-in as troops withdrew to avoid confrontations. The protesters also set fire to police vehicles and obstructed major roads.
Demonstrators also vandalized the main gate of the army's headquarters in Rawalpindi, but the troops showed restraint. The protesters chanted slogans in support of Khan as they moved towards the building. In Karachi, police dispersed hundreds of Khan supporters who had blocked a major road by using batons and tear gas.
Raoof Hasan, a member of Khan's political party, stated in an interview with Al Jazeera English that the arrest is a clear example of interference in the judicial system by the people in power. Hasan also argued that Khan was essentially kidnapped from the courtroom.
Before heading to Islamabad, Imran Khan issued a video message saying he was "mentally ready" for his potential arrest.
In November, Khan was injured during a rally when a gunman opened fire, killing one of Khan's supporters and injuring 13 others. Khan claimed that there was a conspiracy to assassinate him, alleging that Pakistan's intelligence agency was involved, but did not provide any proof. The attacker was apprehended on the spot, and the police later released a video of him in custody, where he allegedly confessed to acting alone.
The military released a statement on Monday that strongly criticized Khan for making "fabricated and malicious allegations" about the military's involvement in the shooting incident in November. The statement went on to describe these accusations as "extremely unfortunate, deplorable and unacceptable."
Pakistan has been ruled by the military for more than half of the 75 years since it gained independence from British colonial rule, and holds significant control over civilian governments.
“Let this be abundantly clear that you, as former prime minister, currently on trial for corruption, are claiming legitimacy to overturn the legal and political system," Sharif tweeted after Khan's arrest.
The European Union has called for calmness and level-headedness in Pakistan. In a statement, the EU urged, restraint and cool-headedness" in the country.
US State Department spokesperson told news agency ANI that the US does not have a position on a political candidate or a party. Responding to ANI on the dramatic arrest of Imran Khan in Pakistan the official called for respect of democratic principles.
The US State Department spokesperson said, "We are aware of the arrest of former Pakistani prime minister Imran Khan. As we have said before, the United States does not have a position on one political candidate or party versus another. We call for the respect of democratic principles and the rule of law around the world."
UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly stressed “We want to see peaceful democracy in that country. We want to see the rule of law adhered to."
In March, authorities attempted to arrest Imran Khan at his residence in Lahore based on a court order related to a different case. The attempt resulted in violent clashes that left many, including police, injured. Despite this, Khan was not arrested and was later granted bail in the case.
Nawaz Sharif, the brother of the current prime minister and a former prime minister himself, has been arrested multiple times on charges related to corruption.
Khan became prime minister in 2018 after winning parliamentary elections and initially had positive relations with the military, but their relationship has since deteriorated over time.