Imran Khan supporters break in Pak Army HQ in Rawalpindi

Protests erupted across Pakistan in the aftermath of the arrest of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, as his supporters took to the streets in various cities. Demonstrators in Lahore breached the compound of the army commanders' residence, while in Rawalpindi, they stormed the army headquarters, resulting in significant damage to the main gate. Additionally, the Radio Pakistan building in Peshawar was set on fire during the protests. Imran Khan, a former cricketer-turned-politician, was arrested while attending a hearing at the Islamabad High Court.

Organized by Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, the protests prompted authorities to impose prohibitory orders prohibiting large gatherings in Islamabad. Section 144, which restricts public assembly, is in effect, and the Islamabad police have warned of taking action against any violations. Reports indicate that protests took place not only in Islamabad but also in Rawalpindi, Lahore, Karachi, Gujranwala, Faisalabad, Multan, Peshawar, and Mardan.

During the protests in Rawalpindi, Imran Khan's supporters forcefully entered the army headquarters, expressing their dissatisfaction with the establishment. Despite the intense situation, the troops displayed restraint in their response In Lahore's Cantonment area, a significant number of PTI workers forcefully entered the residence of the Corps Commander, causing damage to the gate and window panes.

Army personnel present at the scene did not attempt to stop the enraged protesters, who directed their slogans against individuals they perceived as having influence over the PML-N-led government within the military establishment. Clashes between protesters and police occurred in Karachi and Rawalpindi, with reports indicating that tear gas shells were used by the authorities to control the crowd. Videos from these incidents captured protesters chanting slogans demanding the release of Imran Khan and expressing their desire to shut down Pakistan.

Imran Khan's arrest followed accusations by the army that he had made baseless allegations against a senior officer of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) agency. Specifically, Imran Khan implicated Major-General Faisal Naseer, a prominent ISI officer, in an alleged assassination attempt against him in Wazirabad and the murder of journalist Arshad Sharif. The circumstances surrounding Imran Khan's arrest have raised questions about whether it can be solely attributed to the charges against him and the subsequent response from the army.