Arrest of Imran Khan, Former Prime Minister of Pakistan; Protests in Lahore and Karachi

On Tuesday, May 9, the Pakistan Army arrested Imran Khan, the former Prime Minister of the country. According to one of Khan's aides, he was arrested by the army and transferred to the High Court in Islamabad. Media reports indicate that this arrest is related to a corruption case. The Interior Minister of Pakistan tweeted that the 'National Accountability Bureau' issued the order for Khan's arrest. According to this agency, Mr. Khan is accused of corrupt practices, though the exact nature of the charges is unclear. Images show dozens of security personnel in riot gear surrounding Khan and escorting him to a van. Dozens of supporters of the former Prime Minister blocked streets in his hometown, Lahore. In Karachi, a number of protesters blocked a main road. The 'Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf' party, affiliated with Imran Khan, urged its supporters to shut down the country. The arrest of this 70-year-old politician comes as citizens of Pakistan are grappling with the worst economic crisis the country has faced in years. Inflation has surged, and economic growth has severely slowed. This report uses information from Reuters.