(by Stefano de Paolis)
Former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan, at the center of strong political tensions and for over a year involved in dozens of judicial measures, was arrested today in a court in Islamabad. Soon after, thousands of his supporters took to the streets in several cities across the country and security forces intervened using tear gas and water cannons to disperse them. Khan, leader of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, arrived before the judge this morning to answer charges of "incitement to mutiny and violence" against the leader of the opposing political party. However, the arrest was carried out as part of another corruption case related to an agreement between the then PTI government and Pakistani real estate magnate Malik Riaz, in which the former premier and his wife Bushra Bibi are involved, also accused of having improperly obtained the land to found Al-Quadir University. At that point, the leading exponents of his party, claiming that these are politically motivated accusations, invited their supporters to take to the streets and in a crescendo of tension within a short time there were riots and clashes in Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi, Rawalpindi, Peshawar. Earlier in time, police had warned that an order prohibiting gatherings of more than four people would be strictly enforced. Since being relieved of his post as prime minister in a vote of no confidence in April last year, Khan, a former cricket star, has openly defied the Pakistani army and the current government accusing them of conspiring against him. In particular, he argued that his removal was illegal and launched an intense campaign to obtain early elections and against the government of his successor, Shehbaz Sharif. Last summer, the PTI won a landslide victory in local elections in Punjab and the port city of Karachi. In November, the former premier was shot in the leg during a political rally. The attack has greatly increased its already high polarity, but it has also further inflamed the political scenario, especially following the accusations that Khan himself has repeatedly repeated, including last weekend, against a senior intelligence officer, Major General Faisal Naseer, of being involved in the attempt to kill him. Accusations that have put the former premier increasingly on a collision course with the powerful Pakistani armed forces. Not surprisingly, in a sort of warning, the army yesterday said in a statement that it is an "invented and harmful" accusation, as well as "deplorable and unacceptable". Prime Minister Sharif also took to Twitter, saying these are "allegations without any evidence" that "cannot be allowed and will not be tolerated."
In an effort to bring the unrest and protests following the arrest of former Prime Minister Imran Khan under control, Pakistan's government has suspended internet and social media nationwide. In major cities - writes the website of The Nation - the internet no longer works, while in the districts of some large major cities, such as Lahore, Rawalpindi and Islamabad, mobile phone services are also suspended. Pakistan's Telecommunications Authority, on the recommendation of the Interior Ministry, has blocked Twitter, YouTube, Facebook, and WhatsApp everywhere, writes The Nation.
