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Former Pakistani PM Imran Khan ‘s arrest sparks Protest in Surrey, BC. Canada
5-10-2023
Former Pakistani PM Imran Khan was arrested on Tuesday when he appeared in court to face multiple graft cases in Islamabad High Court.
Fawad Chaudhry, a senior official with the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party was quoted as saying “Khan was dragged outside the Islamabad High Court and pushed into a police vehicle by agents from the National Accountability Bureau.”
"Imran Khan has been arrested because he was being sought in a graft case," Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah Khan told a news conference. He alleged that Khan had caused millions of dollars in losses to the country's treasury by illegally purchasing lands from a business tycoon while in office.
PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi said the party's senior leadership was in Islamabad to meet Khan and would approach the Supreme Court to challenge an Islamabad High Court order that deemed Khan's arrest legal.
"We continue to call PTI family workers, supporters and the people of Pakistan onto the streets for peaceful protest against this unconstitutional behaviour," Qureshi wrote on Twitter.
The protests have disrupted business in several cities in Pakistan as well as worldwide.
Speaking from Washington, the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said he wanted to make sure that "whatever happens in Pakistan is consistent with the rule of law, with the constitution".
UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly, speaking alongside Mr Blinken, noted that Britain enjoyed "a longstanding and close relationship" with Commonwealth member Pakistan, and wanted to "see the rule of law adhered to".
On Wednesday evening, supporters of Imran Khan gathered on scott road and 72nd street in Surrey, British Columbia to protest against his arrest.
Protesters came out to express their anger and frustration directed towards the current Govt. and the role of the Pakistani army in ousting the former PM.
Some of the placards read, Pakistan stands with our Leader, Release Imran Khan, Illegal arrest of Imran Khan not accepted among others.
The organizers urged the protesters to call the Canadian Prime Minister and express their solidarity with Imran Khan.
More Protests are being planned in the coming days.
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