Arrest of Imran Khan, Pakistan’s former prime minister, prompts violent clashes

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — Pakistan’s main opposition leader and former prime minister, Imran Khan, was arrested Tuesday, authorities said, raising the stakes of the country’s political crisis and sparking clashes between his supporters and police.

The arrest prompted demonstrations across the country, and widespread internet outages were reported. Security forces deployed tear gas and water cannons in confrontations with Khan supporters in Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar and other cities. The former prime minister’s party claimed that several protesters were killed and dozens injured. Authorities did not immediately release their own figures.