People from across Blackburn and Darwen held a protest in support of former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan.

Demonstrators waved flags and chanted during the impromptu gathering on the corner of Victoria Street and Barbara Castle Way following the arrest of Imran Khan in Pakistan earlier this week.

The 70-year-old politician and cricket legend, is the seventh former prime minister to be arrested in Pakistan.

His dramatic arrest on Tuesday deepened the political turmoil and sparked violent demonstrations across the country.

He was ousted from office in a no confidence vote in April 2022, and survived an assassination attempt last November.

Khan has blamed the US for removing him from office due to his close relations with China and Russia and his approach to foreign policy.

Despite a slow start to the evening (Wednesday) crowds quickly grew to over three hundred in a short space of time.

People had come wearing the colours of Imran Khan’s party Tehreek-e-Insaf whilst cars and motorcycles were also draped with Pakistan flags.

Lancashire Telegraph:

Dilawar Hussain and Mohammed Rizwan organised the event following requests from people across the borough.

Dilawar said: “It was good to see many people come out at short notice.

"There were a lot of families who wanted to show their frustration at the situation in the country.

“Imran has got a lot of support both here and Pakistan and this latest action by authorities there shows they do not want change for the betterment of the people of Pakistan.

“We would like to thank everyone who turned up and all those who helped put on this protest at such short notice.”

Lancashire Telegraph:

Imran Khan was arrested outside a courtroom in Islamabad where he showed up to face alleged corruption charges on Tuesday, charges he said are politically motivated to stop him from contesting in elections which many sense he would easily win.

He was being held at a police compound in Islamabad where, at a temporary court set up there, a judge on Wednesday ordered the opposition leader to be detained for at least another eight days, raising the prospect of more unrest.

Mobile data services remained suspended and schools and offices were closed in two of Pakistan’s four provinces.

Lancashire Telegraph:

Imran Khan entered politics are a glittering cricket career, in which he played 88 Tests - 48 as national captain - and 175 one day internationals for Pakistan as an all-rounder, and was a fearsome fast bowler.

He was named Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1983 and inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame in 2010.

After his cricket career he moved into politics and philanthropy, building Pakistan's first cancer hospital, establishing a college, and creating his own Foundation to support people in need in his country.