Amid global concerns over violent protests and vandalism following the arrest of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, Pakistan's Foreign Ministry on Friday stated to be having "full ability" to overcome the current prevailing situation.
"We have noted the statements that have come on the current situation in Pakistan and we remind them all that Pakistan has full ability to deal with all domestic challenges in accordance with our laws and Constitution," the official Foreign Office Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said during a press conference in Islamabad.
Baloch's remarks came a day after the Pakistan Supreme Court declared opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party chief Khan's arrest "invalid and unlawful" before ordering the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to immediately release him from its custody.
"The execution of the warrant violated Khan's right of access to justice and the sanctity and safety of the court as he had already surrendered to the court for seeking judicial relief against the action taken by NAB in the Al Qadir Trust case," the apex court said in its ruling on Thursday.
Pakistan's top judicial body further asked the police to provide "foolproof" security to the cricketer-turned-politician as his life was purportedly under threat.
Also, the Supreme Court bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial requested Khan to condemn the violence that gripped Pakistan after his arrest.
At least 10 people were killed, and dozens injured in the violence that broke out following the PTI chairperson's dramatic arrest earlier this week.
Additionally, over 2,000 people have been detained by the police on charges of damaging public property and vandalising Army institutions.
Khan Slams 'Abduction', Reiterates Call for Immediate Elections
Meanwhile, Khan termed his arrest as "abduction" before adding that the police executed the operation in a manner as "if he was a terrorist".
Stating that anarchy was prevailing in the country, he said elections were the immediate need of the hour.
"We don't want anarchy in the country since we are a [political] party which believes in the Constitution; [we] want immediate elections," Khan stated, stressing that he had previously canceled his protest rallies whenever there was information that violence could take place there.
On Friday, the Islamabad High Court would hear Khan's bail plea in the Al-Qadir Trust case.