Global Courant 2023-05-12 10:27:00
ISLAMABAD – Pakistani police have issued an emergency order banning gatherings as supporters of Imran Khan are expected to march to the capital on Friday, where the former prime minister is due to face a court hearing.
His arrest earlier this week, which sparked deadly unrest in the nuclear-armed nation, was ruled “invalid and illegal” by the Supreme Court on Thursday.
Khan’s Pakistani party Tehreek-e-Insaf said thousands of “peaceful Pakistanis” from across the country will gather in Islamabad in solidarity with their leader.
Khan, 70, an international cricket hero turned politician, will appear before the Islamabad High Court at 11am local time (2pm Singapore time) for a hearing on his petition challenging the anti-corruption action against him, ordered by the top court .
His arrest exacerbated instability in the country of 220 million people at a time of severe economic crisis – with record high inflation, anemic growth and delayed funding from the International Monetary Fund – and escalated Khan’s battle with the powerful military.
So far, nearly 2,000 people have been arrested and at least eight people killed after supporters of Khan clashed with police, attacked military establishments and set fire to other state buildings and properties.
The unrest prompted the government to call in the army to help restore order.
The army has warned Khan’s supporters that it will respond strongly if there are further attacks on his assets, saying in a statement on Wednesday that the violence at his installations was “pre-planned” and ordered by his party leadership.
Khan has blamed the military for his removal from office in April 2022 in a parliamentary vote of no confidence.
For their part, his opponents say Khan was brought to power by the generals in 2018 through rigged elections.
The military, which remains Pakistan’s most powerful institution and has ruled directly through three coups for nearly half of its 75-year history, has denied Khan’s allegations. REUTERS
