Imran Khan, Pakistan’s former prime minister, made a court appearance today after his arrest on corruption charges sparked widespread protests throughout the country. Pakistani authorities have reported the arrest of nearly 1,000 individuals in the aftermath of Mr. Khan’s detention in Islamabad, despite his firm denial of the charges against him.

High-security measures have been implemented at the police guesthouse, currently serving as a makeshift courtroom, where Mr. Khan is being held. The arrest has ignited an intense political battle between Khan and the influential military forces of Pakistan. A conviction on these charges would disqualify him from participating in future elections.

Violent protests erupted across multiple cities in Pakistan, resulting in at least two deaths, immediately following Mr. Khan’s arrest on Tuesday. The 70-year-old former international cricket star was removed from office last April, less than four years into his prime ministerial term.

In a separate incident in November, Mr. Khan sustained a gunshot wound to his leg during campaign activities in Wazirabad. He accused a senior intelligence official of orchestrating the attack, an accusation strongly denied by the military in recent days. One day prior to his arrest, the military had cautioned Mr. Khan against repeating the allegation.

Presently, Mr. Khan faces multiple charges of corruption and sedition, which he vehemently asserts are politically motivated. Up until Tuesday, he had evaded arrest on multiple occasions by refusing to attend court hearings.

Supporters of Mr. Khan argue that the charges leveled against him by the current Pakistani government are a deliberate attempt to prevent him from participating in the upcoming general elections scheduled for October. Khan had been actively campaigning throughout the country, advocating for an earlier election date. In the hours since his arrest, police have conducted raids and detained members of Khan’s political party.Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan Faces Judge Following Arrest on Corruption Charges