'It looks like it was planned': Pakistanis condemn Khan's arrest

Record ID: 1736568

  • Title: 'It looks like it was planned': Pakistanis condemn Khan's arrest
  • Date: 5th August 2023
  • Summary: LAHORE, PAKISTAN (AUGUST 5, 2023) (REUTERS) IMRAN KHAN’S SUPPORTERS GATHERED OUTSIDE HIS RESIDENCE VARIOUS OF POLICE ARRESTING KHAN’S SUPPORTERS (SOUNDBITE) (Urdu) IMRAN KHAN SUPPORTER, KIRAN NADEEM, SAYING: “I came down here to protest peacefully. I came empty handed (unarmed) but they tried to arrest me twice. I fled from there and reached my car. You can imagine that they are not even allowing a peaceful protest. The second thing is that they have arrested Imran Khan in a case which is not credible. If they have arrested him, then they should at least allow us to hold a peaceful protest.” POLICE ARRESTING MAN/JOURNALISTS FILMING (SOUNDBITE) (Urdu) LAWYER NOT INVOLVED IN KHAN'S CASE, MOHAMMAD ZULQARNAIN, SAYING: “There are Supreme Court rules that say a final chance is given (to the accused). He (the judge) says if your witnesses have not turned up today, I give you the last chance to bring them tomorrow or the day after. This chance was not given (to Khan). The witnesses came today and his (Khan’s) defence was closed. I have never seen this (situation) until today (during my professional life). Considering the circumstances, there's the High Court and the Supreme Court (for appeal), so this verdict is not sustainable.” KARACHI, PAKISTAN (AUGUST 5, 2023) (REUTERS) TRAFFIC ON STREET POLICE VEHICLES VARIOUS OF PARAMILITARY SOLDIERS STANDING VARIOUS OF POLICE ARRESTING ELDERLY MAN VARIOUS OF PEOPLE GATHERED AT BAZAAR (SOUNDBITE) (Urdu) LOCAL RESIDENT, MOHAMMAD IMRAN, SAYING: “I think this (arrest) was carried out under a conspiracy. People were hopeful when Imran Khan was prime minister that he would give them a new Pakistan and the country would step forward towards prosperity. After Imran Khan (stepped down), people are now worried under this new government. The inflation rate has doubled compared to what it was when he was in power.” TRAFFIC PEOPLE WALKING IN BAZAAR (SOUNDBITE) (Urdu) LOCAL RESIDENT, MOHAMMAD AKBER, SAYING: “This (arrest of Khan) looks like it was planned. This cannot end well. This should have been done in a proper way. He was the only one arrested. What about the other 'angel' politicians? They have done a lot of things. He (Khan) was arrested for taking just one thing from Toshakhana, the others have taken cars and a lot of things, and there are free.” VARIOUS OF KHAN’S OFFICE LOCK ON DOOR TRAFFIC
  • Embargoed: 19th August 2023 15:29
  • Keywords: Imran Khan Karachi Lahore PTI Pakistan protesters arrests
  • Location: LAHORE AND KARACHI, PAKISTAN
  • City: LAHORE AND KARACHI, PAKISTAN
  • Country: Pakistan
  • Topics: Asia / Pacific,Government/Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA001255405082023RP1
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Dozens of supporters of Pakistan's former prime minister Imran Khan gathered in Lahore on Saturday (August 5) to condemn his arrest, after a court sentenced him to three years in prison for illegally selling state gifts.
    Some protesters say Khan was not given a fair trial. Others criticised police for preventing them to carry out what they say were peaceful protests outside Khan's residence, where a few demonstrators were arrested.
    The sentence is potentially barring the opposition leader from contesting an upcoming election. His party called for peaceful protests against the decision, but there was only a limited public response on Saturday evening, compared to the violence that roiled the country when Khan was briefly arrested in May.
    Security was also tight in Karachi, the biggest Pakistani city, where police rounded up an elderly supporter of Khan.
    (Production: Shahab Shahabuddin, Waseem Sattar, Naeem Abbas, Paul Warren, Violet Gonda)
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2023. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register