Over 200 Imran Khan Supporters Arrested During Protest Rallies in Pakistan

Over 200 Imran Khan Supporters Arrested During Protest Rallies in Pakistan
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More than 200 supporters of former Prime Minister Imran Khan were arrested across Pakistan on Tuesday as they attempted to hold rallies marking the second anniversary of his arrest, NDTV reported. Among those detained was 73-year-old politician Rehana Dar, a vocal member of Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, who was taken into custody in Lahore. PTI spokesperson Zulfiqar Bukhari said police used tear gas and batons to disperse demonstrators in Lahore and Karachi.

According to reports, the rallies were intended as peaceful protests against Khan’s continued imprisonment. However, authorities imposed a ban on public gatherings in Islamabad and Rawalpindi, where Khan is jailed following multiple convictions his supporters claim are politically driven.

Most arrests occurred in Rawalpindi and Lahore, though specific charges remain unclear. The crackdown coincided with the disqualification of opposition leader Omar Ayub Khan and other PTI lawmakers by Pakistan’s election commission, linked to their alleged roles in May 2023 unrest following Khan’s initial arrest.