'Act of terrorism': PM Shehbaz Sharif slams Imran Khan's supporters for Pakistan mayhem

Shehbaz Sharif described damaging public property after Imran Khan's arrest as an “act of terrorism” and “enmity” towards the country.

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday condemned the ongoing violence and riots prompted across the nation by supporters of former PM Imran Khan following his arrest on corruption charges a day before. In his first address to the nation since the unrest, Sharif acknowledged the tumultuous nature of Pakistan's political history and added that “revengeful acts in politics never rendered good results for the nation”.

Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. (REUTERS)

Sharif also slammed Khan for the ongoing unrest in the nation and raked up the issue of the alleged corrupt practices carried out by Khan during his tenure as the prime minister.

Sharif said during Khan’s rule, the latter's ministers used to air details of cases against political opponents, in which even the family members were not spared by the authorities. “Not only political opponents but family and relatives were not forgiven too,” Sharif said.

He termed damaging public property an “act of terrorism” and “enmity” towards the country. He also said the miscreants must stop their “anti-state activities” at once and warned of consequences. “The protection of the state and ideology of Pakistan is more precious…nobody will be allowed to conspire against it,” the Islamic Republic’s premier warned.

Sharif defended Khan’s arrest in the Al-Qadir Trust case and said the National Accountability Bureau or NAB is conducting the investigation on the basis of the evidence. He slammed the PTI chairman for committing an “unforgivable crime” by unleashing the mayhem in the state caused after his arrest.

Khan’s arrest on Tuesday from Islamabad high court led to violent clashes across the country, leaving at least six people dead. The ex-Pakistan PM’s supporters were reported to be violently attacking public property and military installations, including setting the Peshawar radio station on fire and storming the army headquarters in Rawalpindi.

The 70-year-old Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief, ousted last year as the PM, faces charges in multiple graft cases. Following the violent demonstration, the Pakistan army was deployed in some provinces including Islamabad to maintain law and order. As per the cops, nearly 1,000 people have been arrested so far.

In the wake of increased clashes, the Pakistan Cabinet this evening also mulled imposing Article 232 in the nation, which allows the president to declare a state of emergency.