Former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan’s arrest on May 8, 2023, sparked violent protests across Pakistan by his supporters. The protests started in Islamabad but quickly spread to other cities, including Lahore, Karachi, Gujranwala, Faisalabad, Multan, Peshawar, and Mardan. In Rawalpindi, Imran Khan’s supporters stormed the army headquarters and smashed the main gate, while in Lahore, they entered the compound of the army commanders’ residence and the Corps Commander’s residence, smashing gates and window panes. Protests in Karachi and Rawalpindi turned violent, with clashes reported between protesters and police who used tear gas to control the mob.
The 70-year-old cricketer-turned-politician was arrested as he was entering the Islamabad High Court for a hearing in a case. Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party urged its supporters to protest and termed it a “now or never opportunity.” Prohibitory orders banning large gatherings were imposed in Islamabad, and the Islamabad police warned of action against violators.
The arrest came after the army accused Imran Khan of leveling baseless allegations against a senior officer of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) spy agency. Imran Khan had accused top ISI officer Major-General Faisal Naseer of being involved in the assassination attempt against him in Wazirabad and the murder of senior journalist Arshad Sharif. However, many are questioning whether the dramatic arrest of the former Prime Minister could only be attributed to the charges against him.
The protests have sparked concerns about the stability of Pakistan’s government, especially given the country’s history of political unrest and military coups. The US has urged Pakistan to respect democratic values amid the violence. It remains to be seen how the situation will evolve in the coming days and what impact it will have on Pakistan’s political landscape.