The United Nations and Russia have urged all the parties in Pakistan to refrain from resorting to violence in the aftermath of the arrest of PTI Chairman and former prime minister Imran Khan. "The UN secretary-general takes note of the ongoing protests that have erupted following the arrest of former prime minister Imran Khan in Islamabad and calls for all parties to refrain from violence. He stresses the need to respect the right to peaceful assembly," said a statement by Farhan Haq, deputy spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

"The secretary-general urges the authorities to respect due process and the rule of law in proceedings brought against former prime minister Imran Khan," the statement added. At least eight were killed and hundreds others injured after protests broke out across Pakistan against the arrest of Imran Khan on Tuesday. The PTI chief was arrested on May 9 in connection with alleged corruption involving the Al-Qadir University Trust. The drama follows months of political crisis during which Imran Khan, who was ousted in April last year, has waged an unprecedented campaign against the country's powerful military.

Russia urges calm in Pakistan

Russia also called on all parties in Pakistan to resolve their difference through peaceful means. Speaking at a press briefing in Moscow, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Russia is "closely following" the events surrounding the arrest of former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan. "We call on all parties to resolve differences by peaceful means, we expect that mass protest actions in Pakistani cities will take place without serious clashes, the situation in the country will soon normalize," Zakharova said.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan-INP