Imran Khan's fans are tight on land, the judiciary also raised their hands, riots across the country

 

 

Imran Khan, Pakistan's former prime minister, has pleaded not guilty to corruption charges following his arrest, which led to nationwide protests and the arrest of nearly 1,000 people, resulting in eight deaths. The arrest has led to tensions between Imran Khan and the military at a time of economic crisis. If convicted, he could be disqualified from standing for office, which would potentially impact his political career.

Imran Khan was indicted on charges of unlawfully selling state gifts during his premiership, but he denies the allegations and says he fulfilled all legal requirements. The arrest is based on a new warrant for a separate corruption case linked to the alleged transfer of land for Al-Qadir University, near Islamabad. Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party says he has not had access to legal counsel and plans to challenge the legality of his arrest in court.

The anti-corruption body's action in arresting Imran Khan has led to violent protests across the country. The army has sent reinforcements to the capital and the country's most populous province, Punjab. Extraordinary scenes of Imran Khan's supporters ransacking the corps commander's residence in Lahore and making away with peacocks have been captured on film.

Pakistan's army described 9 May as a "dark day" and warned protesters of an "extreme reaction" if state properties were attacked again. The police in Islamabad used shipping containers to try to block routes through to the compound where Imran Khan was appearing before a judge. Protesters clashed with the police on one of Islamabad's main motorways, and canisters of tear gas were fired into the crowd.

Imran Khan's party claims he faces more than 100 court cases, which they say are politically motivated, and his supporters argue that the current government wants to bar him from contesting general elections due in October.

Dr Shireen Mazari, the former Minister for Human Rights in Imran Khan's PTI government, told the BBC that the way Imran Khan had been detained amounted to state abduction. Islamabad's High Court declared the arrest legal, but Imran Khan's supporters and political allies continue to protest against it.