AMN
A Pakistani court on Wednesday indicted former Prime Minister Imran Khan in the Tosha Khana corruption case, who was arrested by paramilitary Rangers a day earlier from the Islamabad high court premises.
In August last year, the coalition government ed by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) filed a case against Mr. Khan, claiming that he didn’t disclose information on gifts presented to Tosha Khana and the proceeds from the illegal sale of some of the gifts. The court also granted 8-day physical remand of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan to the National Accountability Bureau in the Al-Qadir Trust case.
Violent protests against Mr. Khan’s arrest have intensified in several cities in Pakistan including Quetta, Karachi, Peshawar, Rawalpindi, and Lahore. At least two persons were killed and five others were injured in clashes between Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf, PTI protesters, and the military in Quetta. Similar violence also resulted in roughly 15 injuries in Karachi, Peshawar, Rawalpindi, and Lahore, and Islamabad. Imran Khan’s supporters attacked and burned the official residence of Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif in Islamabad as well as that of a top regional commander in Lahore. Protesters also smashed the main gate of the Pakistan Army’s headquarters in the garrison city of Rawalpindi.
Many countries have issued travel advisories for their citizens and diplomatic staff, citing political unrest in Pakistan. The US Embassy has announced a travel alert for its citizens in Pakistan. The Canadian government asked its citizens and diplomatic staff to exercise a high degree of caution in Pakistan due to the unpredictable security situation.