Pakistani police fails to arrest Imran Khan

Pakistani security forces failed to arrest former Prime Minister Imran Khan who was accused of being involved in the sale of state gifts. The police and security personnel who raided Khan’s residency faced strong resistance from his supporters and they went to fire tear gas shells to disperse hundreds of angry followers. To stop the arrest, Khan’s supporters threw stones and bricks and engaged in violent clashes with the security personnel.

Despite many attempts, police failed to enter into the compound to arrest Khan for failing to appear in an Islamabad court. Videos on social media showed a massive civil unrest as more supporters of Khan gathered to stop the arrest attempt.

Mr. Khan in a clear message said that due security concerns he is not willing to appear in court. After an unsuccessful attempt, police and other security personnel were seen leaving Khan’s home neighborhood in the city of Lahore.

After police withdrawal and violent clashes, Pakistan’s main opposition leader, Khan was seen standing outside his house, and greeted with his supporters.

Arrest claim mere drama

“Clearly the arrest claim was mere drama because real intent is to abduct and assassinate. From tear gas and water cannons, they have now resorted to live firing,” Khan said.

He furthered, ‘I signed a surety bond last evening, but the DIG refused to even entertain it. There is no doubt of their mala fide intent.”

Khan said that police turned violent and his supporters have been facing police onslaught since yesterday morning of tear gas, cannons with chemical water, rubber bullets and live bullets.

“My house has been under heavy attack. Latest attack by rangers, pitting the largest political party against the army. This is what PDM and the enemies of Pakistan want. No lessons learnt from the East Pakistan tragedy,” Khan said in a tweet post.

Khan further went on saying “rangers firing straight into unarmed citizens at Zaman Park as if they are attacking an enemy force on the battlefield.”

In another post along with a photo, Khan said, “Our worker from Gujrat Usman Jaura saved this lady from direct firing of the bloodthirsty brutal Rangers and Punjab police. In the face of the violence unleashed on us, we saw the spirit of commitment and the passion of our workers like Usman.”

Khan also questioned the military establishment, and those who claim they are “neutral”, by asking “is this your idea of neutrality, rangers directly confronting unarmed protestors and leadership of largest political party when their leaders is facing an illegal warrant and case already in court and when govt of crooks trying to abduct and possibly murder him?”

Police suspend Zaman Park operation

After violent clashes, the Lahore High Court (LHC) ordered police to suspend the operation outside Zman Park in Lahore. The operation was started on Tuesday in an attempt to arrest Khan, who is also the Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party.

On Wednesday, LHC ordered police to stop the operation till 10am on Thursday while Islamabad High Court (IHC) is trying to cancel the arrest warrants of Mr. Khan.

Khan in a tweet said, “my house has been under heavy attack since yesterday afternoon. Latest attack by rangers, pitting the largest political party against the army.”

Since Tuesday, the police who engaged in clashes with Khan’s supporters had retreated back from his residence without arresting him.

Meanwhile, PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry had filed a petition to the IHC seeking to stop the “atrocities” outside Zaman Park, and said he will follow whatever order the high court passes.

Khan denies wrongdoing   

Khan, 70, who was ousted as prime minister last April in a non-confidence vote and has been facing allegations he sold state gifts while in office. However, Khan denied these allegations and called the case as politically motivated to defame him.

Pakistan’s Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb last year revealed a list of gifts given to Khan including seven expensive wrist watches.

The legal proceedings against Khan immediately began after he was ousted from office last year and since then he staged nationwide protests and demanded a snap election. However, the incumbent Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif time and again rejected Khan’s demands and vowed to hold elections as scheduled later this year.

It is worth mentioning that political infighting is common in Pakistan and no prime minister has ever fulfilled a full five year term in office in the history of Pakistan.

Police is complying with court orders

Aurangzeb said police went to arrest Mr. Khan as court orders, emphasizing that the move has nothing to do with elections. She accused Khan of using his party workers, women and children as human shields to evade arrest and ignite unrest in the country.

“Operation to arrest Khan was halted temporarily in order to stop unrest and accommodate the Pakistan Super League (PSL) match,” a police official said.

People in Pakistan used to watch and participate in PSL and the sports ground where the game is being played is a few km away from Khan’s neighborhood.

“We can’t afford to risk the security and safety of the PSL,” the official told Reuters, who declined to be named. The court orders will be implemented.