Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has been arrested by paramilitary troops in Islamabad on charges brought by the country’s anti-corruption agency, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB). Khan was taken into custody from a court premises in Islamabad in a corruption case.
Khan, who was ousted from power last year by the Supreme Court over corruption allegations, has been facing dozens of charges, which he denies. He has accused the NAB of being a tool of political vendetta and has challenged its authority in court.
Khan’s arrest sparked protests by his supporters outside the court and his party headquarters. They chanted slogans against the NAB and the government and demanded his immediate release. Khan’s party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), called for a nationwide strike on Wednesday to protest against his arrest.
Khan’s arrest is seen as a major blow to his party and his political future. It also raises questions about the stability of the country’s fragile democracy and its relations with its allies and neighbors.
This is a developing story.