Pakistan faces escalating political crisis as protests turn violent and 1,000 arrested

Political tensions in Pakistan have escalated as clashes erupted between government forces and supporters of former Prime Minister Imran Khan. Over 1,000 arrests were made during protests demanding Khan's release, which turned violent in Islamabad. Khan, jailed since August 2023 on corruption charges, has faced numerous legal battles since his government was ousted in 2022. His party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), organized a march that led to confrontations with security forces, resulting in multiple deaths and injuries. The government responded with a crackdown, deploying riot police and shutting down mobile internet services. PTI leaders accused the government of using excessive force, while officials claimed the protests had become violent and damaging to public property.