ISLAMABAD – Unrest has continued to grip Pakistan after former prime minister Imran Khan pleaded not guilty to corruption charges.
At least eight people have died nationwide in the protests and 1,400 have been arrested, police say.
The army has warned of “severe retaliation” if violence continues, after it was called in to quell.
Khan’s arrest has dramatically escalated tensions between him and the military at a time of economic crisis.
Conviction would disqualify the former international cricket star – and Pakistan’s prime minister from 2018 to 2022 – from standing for office, possibly for life. Elections are due later this year.
Pakistan’s army has heavily influenced the nuclear-armed country for most of its existence and is a crucial behind-the-scenes player.
Many analysts believe Khan’s election win in 2018 happened with the help of the military. But since he was ousted from premiership, Khan has become one of the military’s most vocal critics.
On Wednesday, Khan was indicted on charges that he unlawfully sold state gifts during his premiership, in a case brought by Pakistan’s Election Commission. Khan denied any wrongdoing.
A day earlier, dramatic footage showed dozens of security officers forcibly removing the 70-year-old from court – where he was attending to separate graft proceedings – then bundling him into a police vehicle. (BBC)
