Pakistan’s former Prime Minister Imran Khan has pleaded not guilty to corruption charges, a day after his arrest sparked nationwide protests.
Police say nearly 1,000 people have been arrested, and eight people have died nationwide in the protests. There is tight security at the police guesthouse where he is being detained, which is also serving as a courtroom.
The arrest dramatically escalated tensions between Khan and the military at a time of economic crisis. Conviction would disqualify the former cricket star – Prime Minister from 2018 to 2022 – from standing for office, possibly for life, and elections are due later this year.