UN calls for peace as protests erupt across Pakistan

The United Nations has taken notice of the deteriorating law and order situation in Pakistan following former prime minister Imran Khan's arrest, with UN Secretary General António Guterres calling for everyone to refrain from violence.

Pakistan descended into chaos after the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chairman was taken into custody from the Islamabad High Court's premises earlier this week.

At least five people have died in violence that has aggravated instability in the country as it grapples with a severe economic crisis and a delay to an International Monetary Fund bailout since November.

According to Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesperson for the Secretary-General, Guterres has appealed to all parties to respect the right to peaceful assembly and has stressed the need for law-enforcers to honour the law while enforcing it against Khan.

"The Secretary-General urges the authorities to respect due process and the rule of law in proceedings brought against former Prime Minister Khan," the spokesman said.

Imran Khan - Pakistan's most popular political leader according to polls - was arrested in a land fraud case on Tuesday, prompting supporters to storm military buildings and ransack the residence of a top army general in Lahore.

Other state buildings and assets have been attacked and set ablaze by protesters, and the government said on Wednesday it had approved requests from two of Pakistan's four provinces - Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, both Khan strongholds - and the federal capital Islamabad to deploy troops to restore order.

The army issued a statement saying it had shown restraint during earlier violence but any further assaults on the military or law enforcement agencies, state installations and properties "will be met with severe retaliation".