Hundreds of riot police fired teargas and charged with batons as supporters of Pakistan Tehreeke-Insaf (PTI), the party of the incarcerated former prime minister Imran Khan, gathered to protest over the weekend in the cities of Islamabad and Lahore.
Dozens of PTI figures, including prominent leaders and lawyers, were arrested and hundreds more were charged under terrorism laws.
Khan's supporters took to the streets to demand the release of their leader and to call for an independent judiciary. Khan, 72, has been held in jail since August 2023 on more than 100 charges of corruption and terrorism that he alleges are politically motivated. He was earlier sentenced to 10 years for leaking state secrets but the courts overturned the verdict.
The weekend's events marked a notable escalation of a crackdown on PTI that started before February's election, which was marred by allegations against the military establishment that it had rigged results to prevent PTI from taking power.
Denne historien er fra October 08, 2024-utgaven av The Guardian.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra October 08, 2024-utgaven av The Guardian.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Wales failing to take action on 'alarming' loss of nature, inquiry finds
The Welsh government is failing to halt the \"alarming\" decline in nature, putting cherished species at risk, a report from the Senedd's cross-party climate change, environment and infrastructure committee says.
Everton feast on abject Spurs as spotlight falls on Postecoglou
The defiance came far too late. Whether it was the two goals that gave a glimmer of respectability to Tottenham's latest defeat or Ange Postecoglou's belief in his ability to arrest a decline, their fightback was futile.
Calls for action against string jellyfish threat to Scottish salmon farms
A jellyfish species that has been wreaking havoc on Norway's salmon industry has made its way to Scotland, causing significant damage and prompting calls for urgent action.
Onana howler and Brighton's brilliance rock sorry United
On a sombre afternoon graced by a piper's rendition of Flower of Scotland and a poetic tribute to the great man, Manchester United went down dismally in their first game since Friday's passing of Denis Law.
Video sharing app clocks on again for US users as Trump promises reprieve
TikTok has moved to restore its services in the US after Donald Trump pledged to give the Chinese-owned video sharing app a reprieve on a ban that briefly saw it stop working for 170 million users.
This fragile truce appears structured to invite multiple crises as it edges forwards
'This is not a deal that Netanyahu wanted; he was forced into it by Trump, who insisted there'd be \"hell to pay\" if the fighting did not stop'
The theatre of tears: fans pay emotional tribute to the 'King'
Old Trafford is united in grief and celebration as supporters come together to honour club legend Law
'After so much pain' Biden hails deal and says Trump must show persistence
Joe Biden has said it is now up to Donald Trump to help ensure the success of the ceasefire deal their teams jointly brokered, warning the incoming US president it would require \"persistence\" and \"the belief in diplomacy backed by deterrence\".
Incapacity benefits system needs urgent reform, peers warn
Labour must carry out a root-and-branch overhaul of the UK's incapacity benefits system if it is to rein in rising health-related welfare spending, an influential cross-party Westminster committee has warned.
The trust has gone' Voters look to Reform in Labour stronghold
At the same time as Nigel Farage was touring US television studios before the inauguration of President Donald Trump, his face was almost as unavoidable in a quiet Cheshire market town more than 3,000 miles from the White House.
