Govt tightens noose on Imran Khan as Zaman Park hostilities heat up

 

Zaman Park stands between police, PTI workers enter next day; Imran says arrest is 'mere drama'

LAHORE: An intense standoff between Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) supporters and law enforcers entered its second day on Wednesday as authorities continued to seek the arrest of party chairman Imran Khan near his Zaman Park residence in Lahore.

This is the second time in recent weeks that police from Islamabad have been sent to Imran Khan's home in Lahore to serve an arrest warrant after he missed several court dates due to security concerns.

Over 60 people, including policemen and citizens, have been injured so far in the clashes that lasted for more than 15 hours between PTI supporters and the police. Clashes continued late into the night while Imran Khan remained holed up in his Zaman Park residence. Police fought battles with Khan's PTI supporters near his residence throughout the night, firing tear gas and dodging stones thrown by the enraged mob. 

The former prime minister took to Twitter to share a picture of the tear gas grenades allegedly used in the attack on his house.

"The latest Rangers attack pitting the biggest Polish party against the army. This is what PDM and enemies of Pakistan want.

In a video posted on Twitter early Wednesday morning, PTI said that law enforcers have resumed shelling of Imran Khan's residence with tear gas.

Meanwhile, the PTI chairman said it was clear that the "arrest" was "mere drama" and that the real intention was to "kidnap" and "murder".

I signed a surety bond last night but the DIG refused to even entertain it. There is no doubt about their intent in falsehood," he tweeted. have the Guardians taking over and we are now in direct confrontation with the humans.”

IHC accepts PTI's request to quash arrest warrant

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) today accepted PTI's plea to quash the arrest warrant against Imran Khan in the Toshakhan case.

Imran Khan's legal team filed an urgent hearing against the PTI chief's arrest warrant in the non-bailable Toshakhan case, seeking quashing of the arrest warrant, but the registrar's office opposed Khan's motion, saying his biometric verification was not done. IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq is hearing PTI's plea.

In an early morning tweet, PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry said the party would abide by any order passed by the apex court.

At the start of today's hearing, the IHC CJ asked PTI if he had considered the objections to his objection.

To this, lawyer Khawaja Haris replied that whatever happens in Lahore is before the court.

“Whatever happens is the result of your actions,” Justice Farooq replied.

The IHC CJ also told the counsel that the suit was yet to be resolved and he would hear it once it was resolved. Justice Farooq also asked what happened to the relief granted by the court.

The court orders have not been executed, so we will see what the outcome will be, he added.

Later, the IHC CJ observed that the registry office raised minor objections to the petition. He then stated that he was withdrawing the biometric and signature objections. However, in the order, the court asked the lawyers to deal with the objections within three days and adjourned the hearing.

'They'll Come Again'

Earlier, in a video shared on PTI's Twitter account shortly before dawn, Khan, sitting in front of Pakistan and party flags at a table decorated with spent tear gas canisters.

The PTI chief claimed that he did not appear in F-8 Katcheri as terrorists targeted the facility twice.

"They know I didn't turn up because of security, now they are preparing again," the chief told PTI.

The former prime minister also claimed that to "avoid anarchy" he signed the bond and his lawyer Ishtiaq A Khan tried to submit the bond to Islamabad's Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police who sent to arrest him.

"And under Section 76 of the Penal Code, if the arresting officer is granted bail, he cannot arrest him," the chief told PTI.

He further claimed that there was no reason for the police to arrest him after that. However, the PTI chief alleged that the DIG refused to take the bond deliberately as his arrest was part of the "London Plan" This has no connection.

IG warns against tougher behavior

On Tuesday, Punjab Inspector General of Police (IGP) Dr Usman Anwar warned the Tehreek-e-Insaf activists to take tougher action if they continue to use violence to prevent the arrest of Leader Imran Khan by the police.

He stated that violent protesters were arrested, detained using CCTV cameras, damaged public property, burning police cars is a terrorist act and protesters will be tried according to the law.

Islamabad Police under DIG ICT Shahzad Bukhari's operation entered Lahore and arrested former Prime Minister and Tehreek-e-Insaf Party chief Imran Khan on Tuesday on the warrant issued by Additional Sessions Judge of Zafar Iqbal Rice Farm, the IGP said.

He added that the Lahore Police has been told to accompany the Islamabad Police teams to execute the judicial orders.

Dr. Anwar said that when the police arrived at the former prime minister's house in Zaman Park in Lahore, the protesters started pelting stones at the police, injuring dozens of law enforcement officers of the Punjab Police, including DIG operations in Islamabad.

bloody supporter

Videos circulating on social media, mostly distributed from PTI's official accounts, show bloodied supporters and others struggling with tear gas.

A PTI official said on Twitter that there is an "urgent need" for a first aid box near Zaman Park.

The party's account also showed a video of tear gas being fired at Bagh Khan, but the police did not appear to break down any gates or walls.

Officers met hundreds of Khan supporters wearing red and green PTI flags.

Police were holding a placard bearing an arrest warrant for the 70-year-old opposition leader and opened fire on the crowd as they tried to make their way to Khan's house.

Additional information from AFP

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