The country slid into turmoil after Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan was arrested from the premises of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday.
While the country struggles with a severe economic crisis and a delay in an IMF bailout since November, current violent protests by the PTI have worsened instability in the country and claimed at least five lives.
According to Farhan Haq, the Secretary-General's deputy spokesperson, Guterres has urged all parties to uphold the right to peaceful assembly and emphasized the need for law enforcement to uphold the law while using it against Khan.
The spokesperson stated, "The Secretary-General urges the authorities to respect due process and the rule of law in the proceedings brought against former Prime Minister Khan."
After Imran Khan’s detention in a land fraud case, his supporters stormed military facilities and ransacked a senior army general's home in Lahore.
The government of Pakistan announced on Wednesday that it had granted requests from two of the country's four provinces—Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, both Khan strongholds—and the federal capital Islamabad to deploy troops to restore order.
In a statement, the army said that while it had exercised restraint during past clashes, any additional attacks on state installations, military or law enforcement facilities, or military or law enforcement personnel "will be met with severe retaliation."
The ISPR press release states that “chairman PTI was taken into legal custody yesterday from the Islamabad High Court according to NAB officials,” in reference to Khan’s arrest. The military noted that immediately after Khan’s “legal” arrest, there were “organized attacks on army properties and installations, and anti-army slogans were raised”.
“On the one hand, these evil elements vigorously stir up public sentiments to fulfill their limited and selfish goals and on the other hand, they do not get tired of highlighting the importance of the army for the country while throwing dust in the eyes of the people. This is an example,” the press release said.
“What the eternal enemy of the country could not do for seventy-five years, this group – wearing the garb of politics – has done in its lust for power”.