Imran Khan's party fears his life is in danger after shock arrest

PTI leader taken away by paramilitary troops who stormed Islamabad court he was appearing in

Pakistani police officers throw stones towards supporters of former prime minister Imran Khan during clashes in Islamabad. AP

A motorway leading into Islamabad is blocked by supporters of Mr Khan as they protest against his arrest. AFP

Mr Khan's supporters protest outside Avenfield House, the home of former Pakistani prime minister Nawaz Sharif, in London. Bloomberg

Nawaz Sharif is the brother of current Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Bloomberg

Policewomen detain a supporter of Mr Khan in Karachi during a protest against his arrest. AFP

A security officer stands near tear gas fired during clashes with supporters of Mr Khan in Lahore. EPA

The Radio Pakistan building in Peshawar was set on fire during the protests. EPA

A satellite image shows heavy security around police headquarters in Islamabad after Mr Khan's arrest. Reuters

A car set on fire in Peshawar by supporters of Mr Khan during a protest. AP

Mr Khan, 71, was expected to attend a hearing. AP

The government shut down Twitter, Facebook and YouTube across much of the country after the arrest. EPA

Authorities suspended the right of assembly in capital Islamabad and throughout Mr Khan's native province of Punjab. EPA

The shell of a bus set on fire during protests in Karachi. Reuters

The debris of a check point set on fire by Mr Khan's supporters in Karachi. Reuters

Motorcycles were also set on fire by Khan supporters. Reuters

A protest against Mr Khan's arrest outside the High Commission for Pakistan in London. Reuters

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party activists protest against the arrest of their leader in Islamabad. AFP

A paramilitary checkpoint burnt down during a protest in Karachi. Reuters

An officer fires a tear gas shell at Mr Khan's supporters in Karachi. EPA

A supporter of Mr Khan is arrested in Karachi. EPA

The Radio Pakistan premises after it was set on fire during clashes between police and Khan supporters in Peshawar. EPA

A burning police vehicle during a protest. Reuters

Plain-clothes police officers beat a Khan supporter during a protest in Peshawar. AP

A supporter of Mr Khan participates in a protest against his arrest in Peshawar. Reuters

Policemen retreat after firing tear gas shells towards supporters of Mr Khan protesting against his arrest in Karachi. AFP

Supporters of Mr Khan block a road during a protest against his arrest. AFP

Mr Khan sits in Islamabad's High Court moments before paramilitary troops entered and arrested him. Reuters

Mr Khan is taken into a vehicle by police as they arrest him. Reuters

Pakistani paramilitary troops walk to the court where Mr Khan is appearing in Islamabad. AP

Mr Khan's lawyer receives medical attention after he was injured during his client's arrest. Reuters

Security personnel escort a car carrying Mr Khan as he arrives at the court. AFP

The guards apparently protected Mr Khan, seen sitting in a wheelchair, from protesters. He was later arrested. AFP

Mr Khan is protected with bullet proof shields. AFP

Mr Khan's party said he was arrested on what they claim are politically-motivated charges. AFP

Former Pakistani prime minister Imran Khan's life is “seriously in danger”, his party told The National hours after its leader's arrest in Islamabad.

Mr Khan, who leads the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party, was appearing in connection with a corruption case when officers from the country’s feared paramilitary forces stormed Islamabad's High Court, allegedly beating Mr Khan before taking him away in a van.

The paramilitary said he was the subject of an arrest warrant issued by Pakistan’s anti-corruption force, the National Accountability Bureau.

“Imran Khan was abducted by paramilitary forces who broke into the high court. They abducted him when he came to appear before the court,” said PTI vice president Shireen Mazari.

“The paramilitary decided they would kidnap and torture Imran. His life is now seriously in danger. There is no rule of law in Pakistan. Might is right and this abduction shows where Pakistan stands today as a state with no democracy or civilian rule.”

Since he was removed from power in April 2022 after losing a no-confidence vote, Mr Khan has faced at least 120 criminal charges.

The former international cricket captain claims the charges are politically motivated and an attempt by the country's establishment — led by its military and intelligence services — to stop him returning to power in a general election scheduled to take place in autumn.

On Tuesday morning, Mr Khan released a video from an unknown location in which he claimed the country's establishment would try to arrest him later in the day.

Mr Khan was appearing in court in Islamabad in an anti-corruption case. He, his wife Bushra Bibi, and other PTI leaders were accused of profiting from a settlement with a property tycoon over the establishment of Al Qadir University while he was in power.

Pakistan’s Interior Minister, Rana Sanaullah, told reporters that Mr Khan had been arrested by the NAB because he had previously ignored court summons in the case.

Anti-corruption officials from the NAB said Mr Khan would appear before a tribunal later on Tuesday.

Protests have been reported across Pakistan, including in the cities of Karachi and Lahore, in response to Mr Khan’s arrest. A ban on public gatherings was immediately passed in Islamabad.

A supporter of Imran Khan holds a burning tyre and PTI party flag during a protest against his arrest in Multan. AFP

“There is now going to be unrest and sporadic violence in Pakistan, as his support base is large in urban areas,” said Dr Qaiser Bengali, one of Pakistan’s leading political and economic analysts.

“I am not an Imran Khan supporter but to the point of rule of law this is a very deplorable and disturbing action.”

The PTI has instructed its supporters to take to the streets. “Pakistan’s people, this is the time to save your country. You won’t get any other opportunity,” it wrote on Twitter.

PTI official Hammad Azhar described Mr Khan’s arrest as a “red line” and called on Pakistanis to protest, en masse, against the former international cricket captain’s detention.

Mr Khan has already been issued with several arrest warrants. In March, police were prevented from storming his home in Lahore after by supporters who blocked their entry.

In November, he survived an assassination attempt when he was shot four times in the legs during a political rally in the city of Wazirabad. Mr Khan claimed the establishment was behind the attack.

“I think what has happened is that the police had failed to arrest Mr Khan themselves and so the army have got frustrated and decided to do it themselves,” adds Dr Bengali.

“I always thought they would arrest him this way. At his residence in Lahore he is protected by his supporters but at the court in Islamabad he is helpless. He can’t take his supporters inside.”

When Mr Khan was elected in 2018 he openly benefited from establishment support but he fell out spectacularly with the military and intelligence services before he was forced out of his job.

Since he was removed from power, Mr Khan has ridden a growing wave of popular support in Pakistan and looked set for re-election in the autumn, seemingly against the establishment's wishes.