Political Turmoil Intensifies: Former Prime Minister Imran Khan's Party Members Arrested

Several members of former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan's party have been arrested and charged with terrorism offenses following a rally demanding his release. Khan, who has been in jail since his ousting in 2022, continues to face significant opposition from the government, which has led to nationwide protests.

Several lawmakers and leaders of jailed former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan's party have been charged with terrorism offenses following a rally they held to demand his release, according to police on Wednesday.

The lawmakers have been in police custody since their arrest after Sunday's rally turned violent and will remain in custody until September 18 for investigation, said police officer Zafar Khan and a party official.

Former cricket star Khan, 71, has been in jail for over a year since his 2022 ouster after a dispute with powerful military generals, leading to the worst political turbulence in decades for the nation of 241 million people.

Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur of the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, where Khan's party has a majority government, is among those facing charges, the police report seen by Reuters showed.

An Islamabad police spokesman stated that the charges include law and order violations and attacking law enforcement officials, categorizing them as terrorism offenses. He did not disclose the number of detainees or provide additional details.

Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party claimed nearly a dozen parliamentarians were detained in Islamabad, with others seeking refuge in parliament to avoid arrest. Police reportedly entered the building to detain some lawmaker, the party claimed.

PTI has announced nationwide protests for Friday against the crackdown. Despite winning the most seats in February's general election, PTI fell short of a majority, enabling Khan's rivals to form a coalition government under Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

PTI accuses the Pakistan Election Commission of manipulating the elections to keep Khan out of power, a charge the commission denies.

(With inputs from agencies.)