Pakistan's former Prime Minister, Imran Khan, was arrested on Tuesday, May 9 in Islamabad, facing corruption charges related to the alleged receipt of land through a charitable trust. The following day the former leader was indicted. These allegations have been vehemently denied by Khan and his aides.

Nationwide Protests and Civil Unrest

Following Khan's arrest, violent protests erupted throughout the country, with supporters clashing with law enforcement and blocking major roads. Despite authorities imposing emergency orders to ban all gatherings, unrest continues to escalate. 

The arrest of Khan, which was made amid accusations against senior military officials, has heightened tensions in the nation.

Army Deployment Amid Deadly Unrest

The Pakistani government has called in the military to quell the deadly unrest following Khan's arrest. The decision comes after violent demonstrations led to the death of at least five people, further compounding the instability in this South Asian nation of 220 million, which is already grappling with a severe economic crisis and an IMF bailout delay.

Following Khan's arrest on Tuesday, his supporters have wreaked havoc, storming military buildings, attacking and setting state properties ablaze, and even ransacking the residence of a top army general in Lahore. In response, the government approved the deployment of troops in two of Khan's strongholds - Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa - and in the federal capital, Islamabad, to restore order. Over 1,000 of Khan's supporters have been arrested in Punjab alone. The army warned that any further assaults on military or law enforcement agencies or state properties "will be met with severe retaliation".

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called on all parties in Pakistan to avoid violence and respect the right to peaceful assembly. He also urged Pakistani authorities to uphold due process and the rule of law in the proceedings against Khan.

The Al-Qadir Trust: A Focus of the Investigation

Al-Qadir Trust, a non-governmental welfare organization, was established by Khan and his third wife, Bushra Watto, in 2018, during his tenure as Prime Minister. As the sole trustees, they promoted the trust at official events. The trust runs a university dedicated to spirituality and Islamic teachings outside Islamabad, a project inspired by Watto, who is also known as Bushra Bibi.

Charges of Corruption: Land Acquisition and Bribery

The corruption case, outlined by Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah at a Tuesday press conference, alleges that the trust was used by Khan to accept land bribes from Malik Riaz Hussain, a prominent real estate developer in Pakistan. The land, valued at around $24.7 million, includes nearly 60 acres for the university site and a large plot in Islamabad.

Allegations of a Complex Bribery Scheme

The alleged bribery scheme began with the repatriation of 190 million British pounds to Pakistan by the UK in 2019 after Hussain settled a British probe into whether his assets were proceeds of crime. Instead of depositing the repatriated funds into Pakistan's treasury, Khan's government allegedly used the funds to settle court fines against Hussain. In return, Hussain supposedly gave the land to Khan through the Al-Qadir Trust.

Khan Indicted 

As protests persist, a Pakistani court transferred Khan to the custody of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) for further questioning. The 70-year-old former international cricket star, now held in a police guesthouse in Islamabad, was also indicted on charges of selling state gifts during his four-year tenure.

The indictment comes on the heels of a decision by the Election Commission of Pakistan in October that found Khan guilty of illegally selling state gifts between 2018 and 2022. 

The Impact on Pakistan

Khan's arrest comes at a challenging time for Pakistan. The country is currently grappling with the worst economic crisis in decades, with high inflation and weak growth. Amidst this, an IMF bailout package has been delayed for months. As Khan faces numerous charges, his conviction could bar him from holding public office, with national elections scheduled for November.

Call for Nationwide Shutdown

In response to Khan's arrest, his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party called on supporters to "shut down Pakistan." The PTI stated on Twitter, "Khan has always stood for you, now it's time to stand for him," resulting in protests and roadblocks throughout the country.
Political infighting and corruption charges are not new in Pakistan, a country where no prime minister has served a full term and the military has ruled for nearly half of its history. However, the arrest of a former Prime Minister on corruption charges marks a significant moment in Pakistan's political landscape.

International Response

Both the United Kingdom and the United States have expressed their concerns with James Cleverly, UK's Foreign Secretary, calling for "peaceful democracy" in Pakistan during his visit to the U.S.Echoing similar sentiments, the White House announced that they are aware of Khan's arrest and called for respect for the rule of law.  It remains to be seen how these calls will influence the course of events in the coming days and weeks.

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