Imran Khan arrested: 1 dead, 6 injured at protest rally in Pakistan’s Quetta

Imran Khan Arrest: At least 6 people were also injured in the firing at the rally in Quetta, Pakistan.

Islamabad:

A Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) worker was killed and six others injured in a firing at a protest rally in Quetta on Tuesday, The Express Tribune reported.

Supporters of former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan blocked the main Quetta airport road in protest against his arrest. The firing incident took place at the PTI rally, The Express Tribune reported citing a senior police officer who requested anonymity as he was not authorized to speak to the media.

PTI Balochistan President Munir Baloch accused the police of firing on the protesters. Baloch demanded an inquiry into the incident. Imran Khan was arrested by Rangers personnel from the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday.

Angry protesters torched two police vehicles parked near the rally and pelted stones as police used tear gas to disperse supporters of former Pakistan PM Imran Khan, The Express Tribune reported.

Protesters blocked traffic between Quetta and other parts of Balochistan by burning tires at the main Airport Road square. Protesters blocked the main national highways in Balochistan, which links Pakistan with Iran and Afghanistan.

According to news reports, three police officers were injured in the firing by the protesters, according to a spokesman for the Balochistan Police. To maintain peace, the Balochistan government has imposed section 144. Balochistan Home Minister Ziaullah Langove said the government has banned all political rallies and display of weapons.

PTI workers protested in cities across the country, including Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Lahore, Karachi, Gujranwala, Faisalabad, Multan, Peshawar and Mardan, Geo News reported. Protesters clashed with police near the nursery in Karachi.

They pelted stones at police vehicles and also tore down street lights. There were reports that the police fired teargas shells at the protesters. Police also fired teargas shells at protesters on Murree Road in Rawalpindi.

PTI supporters raised slogans of “Release Imran Khan” and “Shut down Pakistan” on the streets of Lahore, Faizabad, Bannu and Peshawar. “People of Lahore moving from Liberty to Lahore Cantt,” tweeted the handle of PTI.

Imran Khan was arrested by Rangers personnel of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) acting on a National Accountability Bureau (NAB) warrant. The PTI chairman was arrested as part of NAB’s probe into the Al-Qadir Trust case, ahead of his appearance before the IHC for bail in several FIRs registered against him.

According to a Geo News report, the Rangers personnel were driving a black Toyota Hilux Vigo and took Imran Khan to NAB Rawalpindi. Khan, along with his wife Bushra Bibi and other PTI leaders, is facing an NAB probe related to a deal between the PTI government and a property tycoon which allegedly caused a loss of 190 million pounds to the national exchequer.

According to the allegations, Khan and the other accused allegedly adjusted 50 billion – 190 million pounds at the time – sent to the government by Britain’s National Crime Agency (NCA). He is also accused of obtaining undue advantage in the form of over 458 kanals of land at Mouza Bakrala, Sohawa, for the establishment of Al Qadir University.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)