Imran Khan, Pakistan’s former prime minister, criticized the government’s crackdown on his party, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf. This came after the re-arrest of PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi and raids on other party leaders’ homes by authorities. There were violent protests and attacks on public property and military installations after Khan’s arrest earlier this month. The clashes resulted in deaths and arrests of Khan’s supporters and party leaders. Many prominent PTI figures have left the party, including Shireen Mazari, a former federal minister and close associate of Khan. Qureshi, however, remains with the party despite his re-arrest. Khan has been campaigning against his successor, Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif, claiming that his ouster was illegal and demanding early elections. He denies corruption accusations against him and his wife.
