According to local GEO TV, paramilitary forces detained former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Tuesday. According to the broadcaster, Mr Khan was arrested from a courthouse in Islamabad in a corruption case.
A video of a swarm of paramilitary personnel surrounding Imran Khan and whisking him away to a truck has gone popular on social media. Imran Khan’s party also shared the video, claiming he was “badly pushed.”
“They have severely injured (sic) Imran Khan.” People of Pakistan, now is the time to defend your country. “You won’t get another chance,” it warned.
According to Dawn, Islamabad High Court Chief Justice Aamer Farooq summoned the Islamabad police chief, interior ministry secretary, and extra attorney general within 15 minutes.
“The IHC CJ said he was exercising “control” and warned the Islamabad police chief that if he did not appear before the court, he would “summon” the prime minister,” Dawn added.
“Come to court and tell us why Imran has been arrested and in which case,” Justice Farooq told a Pakistani publication.
“Rangers have occupied the Islamabad High Court, lawyers are being tortured, and Imran Khan’s car has been surrounded,” Fawad Chaudhry, Imran Khan’s adviser, and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader, tweeted in Urdu.
“Rangers have kidnapped Imran Khan from inside the Islamabad High Court.”
“The party has issued an order to begin protests across Pakistan immediately,” PTI leader Azhar Mashwani said on Twitter.
PTI also tweeted a video of an injured man with bloodstains on his shirt, claiming Imran Khan’s lawyer was “badly injured” inside the IHC. “Black day for our democracy and country,” it said.