Hundreds of protesters loyal to former prime minister Imran Khan entered the General Headquarters (GHQ) of the Pakistan Army in Rawalpindi on Wednesday, demanding his release from custody.
Khan, who leads the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, was arrested on Tuesday by security forces at the Islamabad High Court, where he was due to appear in a corruption case. His arrest sparked violent clashes between his supporters and police in several cities across the country.
On Wednesday, a large number of PTI activists tried to march towards Islamabad from Rawalpindi, but were stopped by police who fired tear gas and water cannons. Some of the protesters managed to break through the security cordon and reached the GHQ, the main military headquarters of Pakistan.
Khan, who was ousted from power by a parliamentary vote of no confidence last April, has been facing dozens of legal cases, including charges of terrorism, graft and threatening a female judge. He has denied any wrongdoing and accused the government of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif of political victimization.
Khan has also been holding massive rallies across the country to demand fresh elections and an end to corruption. He has vowed to continue his struggle until he brings a “new Pakistan” for the people.