Stones pelted, tyres burnt, highways blocked: Imran Khan's arrest puts Pakistan on the boil

Former Pakistan PM and PTI chief Imran Khan’s arrest has triggered a widespread unrest and chaos as hundreds of thousands of his supporters have taken to the streets

             Stones pelted, tyres burnt, highways blocked: Imran Khan's arrest puts Pakistan on the boil

Former Pakistan Prime Minister and chief of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan’s arrest from outside the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday has triggered a widespread unrest and violent choas across the country. Protesters burnt tree bushes, tyres and threw bricks and blocks on the roads leading to the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi, while others pelted stones and bricks at the main gate of the GHQ. Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar and other major cities across the country saw PTI supporters block main highways to voice their anger.

While the arrest of Imran Khan by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and Pakistan Rangers officials could prompt an anti-government uproar; the anger of PTI supporters was reportedly more targeted towards the military establishment and their offices, homes and installations.

“Imran Khan is our redline. He is the only hope for us and our country’s future. They’ve arrested him to silence him. But we will not let that happen”, said a female protester present at the one of the protests with her seven-year-old daughter.

Soon after Khan's arrest, protesters raised slogans primarily targeted at the military establishment and not at the current ruling coalition government.

“The uniform is behind the abduction. The uniform is behind this terrorism," shouted PTI supporters.

As the protests erupted, the angry PTI supporters started marching towards the GHQ in Rawalpindi, military controlled areas, Corps Commander’s residence in Lahore and other military managed areas.

Their anger was aimed at the military establishment, whose officials have plotted against Khan to ousting and conspiring against him by supporting the ruling PDM (Pakistan Democratic Movement) government.

The protests turned more violent as police vehicles were vandalized and residence of corps commander attacked in Lahore. Many vehicles were damaged with steel roads, bricks, stones, blocks and batons.

On the other hand, Islamabad High Court (IHC) took notice of the arrest of Imran Khan and called NAB officials questioning Khan's arrest.

PTI supporters, who hoped that IHC would order immediate release of their chief, were disappointed when the court termed the arrest as "legal".

Political experts say that this is a fight between Imran Khan and the military establishment. “The arrest of Imran Khan was mode over Al-Qadir Trust case. However, PTI protesters opted to slam and target the military establishment, accusing them of being behind his arrest. It seems that the military establishment has had enough of Imran Khan’s ongoing accusations. It’s been long since Khan has been warning, threatening and accusing the intelligence agencies, army officials and others with grave and serious charges, including that of assassination attempts," said senior political analyst Rizwan Razi.

PTI has decided to challenge Imran Khan’s arrest by NAB in the Supreme Court of Pakistan (SCP) and continue to protest against it until their leader is released.