In Pakistan, violent protests are growing against the arrest of former Prime Minister Imran Khan.
At least two persons were killed and five others were injured in clashes between PTI protesters and the military in Quetta, the capital of Balochistan province.
Similar violence also resulted in roughly 15 injuries in Karachi, Peshawar, Rawalpindi, and Lahore and Islamabad.
Protesters smashed the main gate of the Pakistan Army’s headquarters in the garrison city of Rawalpindi.
Earlier, police said that Khan will not be brought to court today and his scheduled hearing will take place at the location where he was under custody.
Khan has to appear in a special court at Islamabad’s police headquarters to answer corruption allegations.
Many countries have issued travel advisories for their citizens and diplomatic staff, citing political unrest in Pakistan.
The US Embassy has announced a travel alert for its citizens in Pakistan.
Meanwhile, the Canadian government asked its citizens and diplomatic staff to exercise a high degree of caution in Pakistan due to the unpredictable security situation.
Earlier on Tuesday, Rangers personnel arrested the former prime minister from the premises of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) — acting on National Accountability Bureau’s (NAB) warrant.
Following his arrest, the PTI urged supporters all across Pakistan to protest and “block all roads, close all shops”.
Subsequently, PTI workers held protests in several cities, including Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Lahore, Karachi, Gujranwala, Faisalabad, Multan, Peshawar, and Mardan.
In Karachi, demonstrators clashed with the police near Nursery. They threw stones at and set fire to police vehicles, tore down street lights, and damaged a bus. There were reports that police fired teargas shells at the protesters.
Protesters also caused damage to public property in other cities, including Rawalpindi and Lahore.
