But party officials said on Sunday there were no plans for a nationwide call to protest.
“As far as protests go, there’s not a planned one as yesterday protesters were raided by the police and detained,” an official, who asked not to be named, said.
Police were deployed in major centres across the country after Khan’s arrest, and moved quickly to disperse gatherings of PTI supporters.
Officials said about 35 people were detained in eastern Lahore, and 20 in the port city of Karachi.
In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the northern province that has long been a Khan stronghold, authorities said more than 150 PTI supporters had been picked up.
POLITICAL TURMOIL
Khan’s jailing will do little to calm the economic and political unrest that has roiled the nation for the past 18 months.
“Everyone will ask questions about the credibility of elections in the absence of PTI and Imran Khan and questions will be raised about the credibility of elections in the outside world as well,” political analyst Hasan Askari told AFP.
Khan rose to power in 2018 on a wave of popular support, an anti-corruption manifesto, and the backing of the powerful military establishment.
When he was ousted in April last year, analysts said it was because he lost the support of the top generals.
Khan has faced a slew of court cases on charges he says are politically motivated since being ousted.
The case that has led to his imprisonment centres on gifts he and his wife received while in office.
Pakistan newspapers have for months carried lurid stories alleging Khan and his wife received lavish presents worth millions during trips abroad, including luxury watches, jewellery, designer handbags and perfumes.
Government officials must declare all gifts, but are allowed to keep those below a certain value or buy them at an officially agreed price.
Source: CNA
