Wednesday May 10, 2023
Sources accuse the PTI of constantly inciting people to violence.
Law enforcement agencies will continue to exercise restraint, sources say.
Sources advise people to stay away from "evil, disturbing elements".
ISLAMABAD: Following the arrest of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan at the Islamabad High Court (IHC) premises, government sources confirmed that the country's military forces had nothing to do with the political leader's arrest. .
The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) arrested Khan on Tuesday under a law that has no connection with the Pakistan Army, sources said.
On Tuesday, the PTI chief was arrested as part of the accountability watchdog's probe in the Al-Qadir Trust case ahead of his appearance before the IHC to seek bail in several FIRs registered against him.
After his arrest, protests and demonstrations broke out in various cities of the country.
Referring to these protests - many of which turned violent - the sources added that some "despicable PTI leaders incited their misguided workers and caused unnecessary damage to government property and military installations and buildings, using their agitation and pressure tactics to further their political agenda". .
Sources added that some PTI leaders were constantly inciting people to violence.
"Such an act cannot be tolerated under any circumstances and will be dealt with in accordance with the law," they said.
However, sources said that despite the proliferation and violence by the PTI leadership and their illegal actions, the agencies responsible for enforcing the law have completely refrained and will continue to do so.
However, some PTI leaders continue to use the strategy of agitation and pressure on people to push their political gains, which is unacceptable and will be dealt with in accordance with the law.
They advised people to stay away from such "evil and disturbing elements".
"Such extremist elements and their patrons will be dealt with in accordance with the law and nothing must be allowed to destroy the peace and tranquility of the country," sources said.
Khan's arrest comes a day after he was reprimanded by the powerful military for repeatedly accusing a senior military officer of plotting to assassinate him and a former army chief of being behind his ouster last year.
Dozens of paramilitaries in riot gear surrounded Khan - Pakistan's most popular leader according to opinion polls - and led him by the hand into a black van.
Authorities in three of Pakistan's four provinces issued emergency orders banning all gatherings after Khan's supporters clashed with police, blocked major roads in a number of cities and attacked military buildings in Lahore and Rawalpindi, according to witnesses and videos shared by his party.
Khan, 70, the cricket hero-turned-politician, has shown no signs of slowing down since he was ousted as prime minister in a parliamentary no-confidence vote in April 2022 - even after being wounded in an attack on his convoy in November , who led protest march to Islamabad calling for early general elections.
His arrest comes at a time when Pakistanis are reeling from the worst economic crisis in decades, with record high inflation and rising anaemia. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) rescue package has been delayed for several months, even though foreign exchange reserves are barely enough to cover monthly imports.
