The Indian Defence Forces are keeping a very close watch on the developments in Pakistan, beefing up security along the borders amid the deteriorating situation following the arrest of former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan, the Indian press reported, citing sources in the defence ministry.
“Indian defence forces are on a vigil and are keeping a close watch on the situation in Pakistan, in view of the developments there. Strong vigil being maintained by the forces along the Line of Control (LoC) and the international border,” a source in the Army said.
Khan to Remain in Custody for 4-5 Days
The Pakistani authorities said on Monday that Imran Khan had been taken into custody following a hearing of the Islamabad High Court in the Al-Qadir Trust case. PTI called on citizens of Pakistan to gather for mass protests, demanding Khan's release.
On Tuesday, Pakistan's authorities said Khan was facing an inquiry by the National Accountability Bureau in the Al-Qadir Trust case, related to a settlement between the PTI government and a property tycoon, which reportedly caused a loss of 50 billion Pakistani rupees ($17.6 million) to the national exchequer.
"We will do our best to keep him under custody for at least four to five days. We will seek the maximum physical remand of 14 days from the court," a source from the National Accountability Bureau was quoted by Pakistan's newspaper Dawn as saying.
In October 2022, Pakistan's election commission stripped Khan of his parliamentary mandate as well as the right to be elected and appointed to both the country's federal and regional legislatures for five years after it found him guilty of selling 52 valuables stored in Toshakhana, the Pakistani state treasury, and hiding information about gifts that he received personally. In April 2022, then-opposition leader Nawaz Sharif accused Khan of selling state treasures in Dubai with a total value of 140 million Pakistani rupees.