Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan Arrested by Paramilitary Police
Posted on 05/09/2023
Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan (age 72) was arrested on May 9, 2023 by paramilitary troops. The troops entered into a courthouse in Islamabad (Islamabad High Court) to detain him on multiple corruption charges. In the video, paramilitary forces attacked Islamabad High Court premises before arresting Khan. Khan was arrested in Islamabad on charges brought by the National Accountability Bureau, the country’s anti-corruption agency.
Imran Khan is a former cricket star who became Prime Minister of Pakistan.
The dramatic and sudden arrest of country’s former leader has generated protests in Pakistan. Pakistani authorities have restricted access to Twitter, Facebook, and other social media platforms amid mounting violence in the country catalyzed by the arrest of Imran Khan. Additionally, total internet shutdowns have been observed in some regions.
“By the time you will receive these words of mine, I will have been detained on incorrect charges, Pakistan constitution, which gives us rights, which gives us democracy, has been buried. Perhaps I won’t get the opportunity to speak to you again.”
Khan claims in the video statement, “I have always followed the law. I am being apprehended so that I can’t follow my political path for this country’s fundamental rights and for me to obey this corrupt govt of crooks which has been hoisted on us.”
Khan appealed to his supporters to “come out for your fundamental rights; no nation is handed its freedom on a plate; the time has come for all of you to come and struggle for your rights.”
In 2022, Imran Khan was ousted from his PM role in a parliamentary no-confidence. Khan has since led a popular campaign against the current government led by Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif, accusing it of colluding with the military to remove him from office.