After a two-day-long clash between PTI workers and Police at Zaman Park, The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Wednesday stopped police operation at former premier Imran Khan’s residence till 10 am tomorrow.
According to details, Lahore High Court’s Justice Tariq Saleem Sheikh issued the order on a petition filed by PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry seeking to stop the “atrocities” outside Zaman Park.
Also Read: Zaman Park Clash: Imran Khan along with the PTI leaders booked under Terrorism Charges
Earlier, the court had instructed the Punjab inspector general, chief secretary, and Islamabad police (operations) head to appear in court by 3:15 pm.
According to Police Officals “Police will not advance on Khan’s residence until the ongoing Pakistan Super League (PSL) 8 cricket match is over”
Shortly after the LHC’s orders, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) told Khan to move the trial court and provide the lower court with an undertaking that he will present himself on a specific date — meaning that his arrest warrants in the Toshakhana case are still valid.
After the withdrawal of the police, the PTI chief came out of his residence, in a mask, and met the workers, a video shared on PTI’s official account showed.
Earlier today, after the failure 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 and PTI Chairman’s arrest in the Toshakhana case.
According to details the police and rangers reached the residence of the PTI leader at Zaman Park. The development came after police fired teargas in the area to disperse the PTI workers.
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.
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.
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”.
‘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.
