More Police and Rangers contingents reached PTI Chairman Imran Khan’s Zaman Park residence where a stand-off between party supporters and law enforcers has been going on for more than 20 hours for the former prime minister’s and PTI Chairman’s arrest in the Toshakhana case.
A very critical situation prevailed in Lahore Zaman Park as Police made an attempt to arrest Imran khan but faced resistance from hundreds of his PTI Workers and supporters gathered outside his residence in Zaman Park. As result Clashes erupted between the PTI workers and the Police.
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The official PTI Twitter handle stated that open firing had begun by the Rangers and police with Imran’s Zaman Park residence under “extreme attack”.
The latest Updates are that Police failed to arrest Imran khan due to resistance shown by PTI Workers. Earlier Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) workers and supporters on Tuesday night took control of Zaman Park Lahore after an hours-long face-off with police, who arrived to arrest former prime minister Imran Khan.
So far, the police have arrested at least 10 PTI workers from the area.
On the other hand, hospital sources told that at least 54 cops and eight citizens have been injured in the clashes that have been ongoing since yesterday.
‘Real intent is to Abduct & Assassinate’
While taking to Twitter PTI Chairman Imran Khan shared a picture of the teargas shells allegedly used during the crackdown on his home.
“Latest attack by Rangers, pitting the largest pol party against the army. This is what PDM and the enemies of Pakistan want. No lessons learned from the East Pakistan tragedy,” said the PTI chief.
After the deployment of Rangers, the PTI chairman, in a series of tweets today, claimed that the “real intent is to abduct and assassinate him” as the police have “now resorted to live firing”.
“From tear gas & water cannons, they have now resorted to firing. I signed a surety bond last evening, but the DIG refused to even entertain it. There is no doubt of their mala fide intent,” he said.
‘London plan’
In a video shared on PTI’s Twitter account in the wee hours of Wednesday, the PTI chief said that his arrest was part of the “London plan”.
The former prime minister claimed that in order to “avoid anarchy”, he had signed an undertaking and his counsel Ishtiaq A Khan tried presenting the surety to the Islamabad police deputy inspector general (DIG) sent to arrest him.
Zaman park operation
Islamabad police team on Tuesday reached Lahore to arrest Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan after a district and sessions court issued his non-bailable arrest warrants for failing to attend the hearing in the Toshakhana reference.
The court of ADSJ Zafar Iqbal restored non-bailable arrest warrants for Imran in the Toshakhana reference. It instructed the police to arrest the PTI chief and present him in court by March 18.
In a statement, the Islamabad police spokesperson said that they have reached Lahore to arrest the PTI chief on court orders. Later, party workers and police officials clashed outside his Zaman Park residence in Lahore.
The Islamabad police used water cannons and tear gas to disperse PTI workers gathered outside party chief Imran Khan’s Zaman Park residence in Lahore.
Imran khan message
In a video message shared on Twitter, the PTI chief urged the nation to stand resolute and fight for ‘Haqeeqi Azadi (real freedom) and rule of law’. “If I’m arrested or killed, fight for Haqeeqi Azadi [true freedom movement] must continue,” said Khan who was removed as the premier via a no-confidence motion in April last year.
In response, PTI workers have started protesting across major cities — including Karachi, Faisalabad, Sargodha, Vehari, Peshawar, Quetta, and Mianwali.
Remember that the district and sessions court in Islamabad on Monday issued a non-bailable arrest warrant for PTI chairman Imran Khan in the judge ‘threat’ case.
In the hearing Civil Judge Rana Mujahid Rahim in the morning adjourned the hearing for an hour to ensure Imran Khan appears before the court.
Judge says, “I would issue a non-bailable arrest warrant for Imran Khan if he did not appear in court during the specified time.”
Imran Khan’s lawyer Naeem Panjutha stated that due to security fears, the PTI chief has requested for exemption from appearing in court.
The court resume its hearing after a break, Judge demanded where is Imran khan.
To which Imran Khan’s lawyer said that he will not appear before keeping this in view the court issued his non-bailable arrest warrant and ordered to present the PTI chief before the court on 29th March.
