LAHORE: The stand-off between the law-enforcement agencies and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) workers continues almost into the 12th hour Tuesday midnight with the police and Rangers still no closer to arresting the PTI chairman Imran Khan.
Protests broke out in major cities of the country also on Tuesday at the call of PTI chief Imran Khan as police and party workers continued clashing outside Khan’s Zaman Park residence in Lahore. Intermittent tear gas shelling continued for hours in the day to disperse the PTI supporters as the law-enforcement agencies tried to force through the PTI workers’ lineups around Zaman Park.
The police which was previously camped out at a security barrier outside the neighbourhood was forced to retreat towards the Mall Road. The PTI workers, meanwhile, laid siege to the path leading to Imran’s residence as well as Canal Road. On the other hand, Rangers will stay in Lahore till March 22 as the Interior ministry has given approval in this regard.
With the police seeking Imran’s immediate arrest, protests broken out in Karachi, Islamabad, Peshawar, and Rawalpindi after the PTI chairman asked his supporters to “come out” following police’s use of water cannons and tear gas on his supporters outside Zaman Park.
Earlier in the day, DIG Islamabad police also got injured in the clashes with tear gas shells falling inside Zaman Park as police and PTI supporters faced off. According to the police, several policemen were injured as the protestors pelted stones at them. PML-N senior leader Maryam Nawaz has said that Imran would be held responsible if any police officer or personnel is injured. Media citing the police sources counted the number of injured personnel at 37 by midnight.
Protests in major cities
PTI workers protested at 5-Star Chowrangi, Banaras Chowk, 4-K Chowrangi, Al-Asif Square, Mirza Adam Khan Chowk, Shaheen Chowk, and Murghi Khana in Karachi. The videos shared by the PTI’s Karachi chapter also showed workers gathered at II Chundrigar, Qayyumabad Chowrangi, Sohrab Goth and Hassan Square. The PTI claimed that Sindh police fired tear gas shells at the party workers and supporters at Hassan Square to disperse the crowd. Footage shared by the PTI showed the party workers running away amid the sound of gunfire.
In Peshawar, a large number of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf supporters protested outside the press club. The workers also blocked Sher Shah Suri Road and marched towards the governor House.
According to the Islamabad police, the PTI protesters blocked Tarnol Road but it was reopened for traffic due to timely action by the police. A case has also been registered in Tarnol Police Station against the PTI workers who blocked the road ‘on the orders of Imran Khan’.
In Rawalpindi, the PTI supporters gathered at the Committee Chowk and Liaqat Bagh but were later dispersed by the police. A spokesperson for the Rawalpindi police said PTI workers at Liaqat Bagh pelted stones at officials after which police baton-charged them.
Imran asked PTI supporters to ‘come out’
In a video message on Twitter earlier in the day, Imran Khan said police had arrived at Zaman Park to arrest him. “They think that after I am arrested, the nation will fall asleep. You have to prove them wrong,” he said. Imran Khan said everyone should come out of their homes for their rights and “haqeeqi azaadi”.
“If something happens to me and I am jailed or if I am killed, you have to prove that you will struggle even without Imran and not accept the slavery of these thieves and the one who has been making decisions pertaining to the country,” said the former premier. It is to mention here that Imran Khan has been continuing his confrontational rhetoric against the establishment since his ouster in April last year.
Separately, in an interview to Sky and Al Jazeera later in the evening, Imran Khan said that he was “mentally prepared” for his arrest. “There is a huge police force outside — not just the police but they have got the Rangers there too which is the army. It seems as if Pakistan’s biggest terrorist is holed up inside,” he commented.
Imran Khan alleged that the government wanted him out of the election race since it was frightened of his party’s popularity. “According to all opinion polls, we will sweep the upcoming elections and that is why they want me removed from the scene,” he added. In another interview with BBC World, Imran said there was a “lull” in the operation, claiming that the police was bringing in reinforcements. “I’m mentally prepared that I’m going to be spending the night in a cell … I’m all prepared for that. I think they’re determined this time they really want me behind bars,” he added.
Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah, during a speech at Sheikhupura in the day, said that officials would arrest Imran Khan in accordance with the court’s directives and produce him in the court.
Commenting on the continuing deadlock at Zaman Park, President Dr Arif Alvi said he was “deeply saddened” by the events. “Unhealthy revenge politics. Poor priorities of a government of a country that should focus on economic misery of the people,” he said. “Are we destroying political landscape? I’m concerned about safety and dignity of @ImranKhanPTI like that of all politicians,” he said.
It all started shortly after 2 p.m. when armoured police vehicles arrived outside Zaman Park to arrest Imran Khan.
An Islamabad district and sessions court had on Monday again issued arrest warrants for Imran after he persistently skipped hearings in the Tosha Khana case. The court had also directed the police to present the ex-premier in court by March 18. Almost an hour after, the police arrived outside Zaman Park, they started using water cannon and tear gas against the PTI supporters that had gathered outside Zaman Park.
The televised footage showed the police inching toward Khan’s residence behind an armoured vehicle that was dispersing the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf supporters with a water cannon. The supporters could also be seen pelting stones at the policemen.
Footage also showed the PTI supporters being teargassed once police arrived close to the main gate of Zaman Park. The PTI workers, who had covered their faces with pieces of cloth and were carrying bottles of water, continued pelting stones at the police personnel.
Amid the chaos, Islamabad DIG (Operations) Shehzad Bukhari who was leading the police team, was injured. As the sun set, a heavy contingent of Rangers was deployed outside Zaman Park. A helicopter was also seen circling above Zaman Park but it was not immediately clear if it was part of the operation.
PTI’s plea against arrest warrants fixed for today
Separately, the PTI challenged Imran’s arrest warrants in the Tosha Khana case in the Islamabad High Court. The party had filed the petition shortly after police and PTI workers had come face to face outside Zaman Park.
Chief Justice Islamabad High Court Aamer Farooq fixed the hearing for today (Wednesday) while rejecting the party’s request to conduct the hearing on Tuesday.
Till the final reports, the caretaker chief minister Punjab called a meeting to discuss the law and order in the province in general and around Zaman Park in particular with the police reviewing its strategy to arrest Imran Khan.
