Imran Khan, Pakistan’s former prime minister, has been arrested by the military during a court appearance.

Khan was taken into custody at Islamabad’s high court today, his leading aide Fawad Chaudhry told The Times.

The former cricketer had been attending two court hearings and was initially taken into custody by the Pakistan Rangers, the paramilitary federal law enforcement corps, his aide said.

Contingents of paramilitary forces entered the court shortly after Khan, while armoured vehicles were used to block the gate, a witness told the Reuters news agency. Khan was taken away flanked by heavy security, they added.

Khan’s party, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, issued an immediate call for nationwide protests in response.

The arrest follows previous unsuccessful attempts by police to detain Khan at his Lahore residence in the east of Pakistan.

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