Pakistani police on Tuesday arrested senior journalist and TV anchor Imran Riaz Khan, who is a strong critic of the Pakistani establishment and the incumbent coalition government led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, according to the media reports.

A first information report (FIR) has been lodged against Khan in Attock, according to police.

Khan was picked up by Punjab police from a toll plaza near Islamabad.

Earlier, Imran told the media that his bullet-proof vehicle and licenced weapons had been seized by the state authorities.

Former prime minister Imran Khan, in a tweet, condemned Khan’s arrest.

I strongly condemn the arbitrary arrest of @ImranRiazKhan by Punjab police tonight. The country is descending into fascism just to make our nation accept an Imported Govt comprising of mega crooks. It is time for everyone, esp the media, to unite & stand up against this fascism.

— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) July 5, 2022

“The country is descending into fascism just to make our nation accept an Imported Govt comprising of mega crooks. It is time for everyone, esp the media, to unite & stand up against this fascism,” said the chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).