The arrest of former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan on Tuesday in connection with the Al-Qadir Trust corruption case has triggered violent protests across Pakistan. Authorities in Punjab and Islamabad imposed Section 144 in an attempt to control the law and order situation.
Arrest and Nationwide Chaos
Khan was taken into custody by Rangers from the premises of the Islamabad High Court (IHC), where he had arrived to seek bail in multiple cases filed against him following his ouster in April 2022. His dramatic arrest sparked immediate unrest, with PTI supporters staging protests in major cities, including Karachi, Lahore, Faisalabad, and Peshawar.
In Karachi, Lahore, and Faisalabad, law enforcement resorted to tear gas and water cannons to disperse protesters. Demonstrators also blocked roads in Islamabad and other cities, damaging public property and setting police vehicles ablaze in Charsadda, Karachi, and Lahore. PTI issued a call to action on Twitter, urging supporters to “shut down Pakistan” in response to the arrest.
A PTI supporter, Hanif Khan, a grocery store owner, passionately stated, “Imran Khan is our red line. Even a scratch on him is not acceptable. We will sacrifice our lives but free Imran Khan.”
Legal and Political Implications
Imran Khan faces numerous charges, including allegations in the Al-Qadir Trust case, which accuses him, his wife Bushra Bibi, and other PTI leaders of misusing government funds and receiving undue benefits. Analysts believe such cases are often used as political tools in Pakistan to suppress opposition leaders.
If convicted, Khan could be disqualified from holding public office, barring him from contesting elections scheduled later this year.
PTI’s Emergency Meeting
In response to the arrest, PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi convened an emergency meeting of the party’s central leadership. The committee, comprising PTI leaders like Saifullah Niazi, Azam Swati, Ijaz Chaudhary, and Murad Saeed, is formulating the party’s future course of action. Qureshi condemned the alleged mistreatment of Khan during his arrest and vowed to continue the party’s legal and political struggle with full determination.
Government’s Justification
Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah defended the arrest, claiming it was executed by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in accordance with the law. He rejected allegations of torture during the arrest, tweeting, “No sort of torture was inflicted on him [Khan].”
According to Sanaullah, the Al-Qadir Trust case revolves around a settlement between the PTI government and a property tycoon, which allegedly cost the national exchequer £190 million. The former premier and his co-accused are also alleged to have acquired 458 kanals of land in Sohawa to establish Al-Qadir University, benefiting from the settlement.
Al-Qadir Trust Case Details
The case alleges that Imran Khan, Bushra Bibi, and other PTI leaders adjusted Rs50 billion (approximately £190 million) transferred by Britain’s National Crime Agency (NCA) to the Pakistani government. The NAB claims this adjustment caused significant losses to the national treasury, with land acquisitions for Al-Qadir University being a part of the alleged corruption scheme.