Pakistani police have detained several lawmakers from former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), in a series of raids conducted just a day after a significant rally in Islamabad demanding Khan’s release. According to police sources, four individuals were taken into custody, though PTI claims that 13 members, including some from outside parliament, were detained.
The detentions occurred amidst heightened political tension, with the crackdown following a major protest on the outskirts of the capital. The rally, organized by PTI to call for Khan’s release from imprisonment, reportedly led to clashes between supporters and law enforcement. Media footage captured the arrests, showing police forcibly escorting lawmakers into vehicles, a move that PTI opposition leader Omar Ayub Khan condemned as “despicable.”
Zulfikar Bukhari, a senior aide to Khan, described the detentions as illegal and suggested that the government's reaction was a direct response to the significant turnout at the rally. Among those detained were PTI Chairman Gohar Khan, and senior leaders Shoaib Shaheen and Sher Afzal Marwat.
The political climate in Pakistan has been tense since Khan’s ouster in 2022 following a contentious dispute with the country’s military leadership. Khan, a former cricket star, has been imprisoned for over a year, and his party has been vocal in its demands for his release. PTI won the largest number of seats in the general election held earlier this year but did not secure the majority needed to form a government. Consequently, a coalition government led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was established.
The recent rally also saw confrontations between PTI supporters and police, with the latter using tear gas to disperse the crowd. The party claimed that the violence was sparked by the police's attempt to break up the peaceful assembly. Criticism was also directed at the ruling alliance and the military during the protest. Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province notably criticized the military and warned against any military trials for Khan, asserting his defiance.
In response to these events, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar accused Gandapur of inciting violence and threatening to forcibly free Khan from prison. As of now, police have confirmed the detention of at least four individuals but have not provided detailed information on the charges or the nature of the arrests.
The situation remains fluid as tensions between Khan’s party and the ruling government continue to escalate, drawing significant national and international attention.
