The Lahore High Court (LHC) has instructed the police to halt their Tuesday-starting operation outside Zaman Park in Lahore. Imran Khan, the leader of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), was being sought for questioning in the Toshkhana case when this operation was started. On Wednesday, there were more fights between PTI supporters and law enforcement.
Police are to cease operations, per LHC.
The LHC ordered the police to cease operations on Wednesday until 10 am on Thursday. Police officers clashed with PTI supporters after they arrived at Zaman Park on Tuesday to arrest the former prime minister. By Wednesday afternoon, the police started to leave the former prime minister’s home without making an arrest.
Imran Khan spoke to PTI backers
The former PM was seen speaking to party supporters at Zaman Park while wearing a gas mask, according to the official PTI Twitter account. Later, he was spotted among his supporters without the gas mask. Imran claimed in a tweet that Rangers had taken control and were now engaged in a direct confrontation with his supporters after a day of dealing with tear gas, chemical water cannons, rubber bullets, and live ammunition.
Leader of PTI Filed a Petition
Fawad Chaudhry, the leader of the PTI, had earlier submitted a petition to stop the “atrocities” in front of Zaman Park. Justice Tariq Saleem Sheikh called the chief secretary, Islamabad police (operations) head, and inspector general of Punjab to testify in court today in response to his petition.
The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has deferred ruling on Imran’s appeal against his non-bailable arrest warrant in the meantime. Aamer Farooq, Chief Justice of the IHC, heard the case. Fawad Chaudhry, the leader of the PTI, stated that the party will abide by any ruling made by the high court.
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Imran calls for a new election
Since being removed from office by a parliamentary vote last year, Imran has been calling for an immediate election at protests across the nation. The vote will take place as scheduled later this year, according to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
To arrest Imran in the Toshakhana case, armoured police vehicles pulled up outside Khan’s home on Tuesday. Law enforcement officers and PTI workers got into a fight, and the latter responded by using water cannons, tear gas, and baton charges. Police were attacked with sticks and stoned by protesters.
Release of a Non-Bailable Arrest Warrant
In resonse to Imran’s repeated absences from case hearings, a district and sessions court on Monday denied his request for an exemption and upheld the non-bailable arrest warrant that had been issued for him in the Toshakhana case. Additionally, a warrant was issued for his arrest in connection with comments made about Zeba Chaudhry, an additional sessions judge in Islamabad. The court suspended this warrant on Tuesday, preventing the former prime minister from being detained by law enforcement until March 16.
Source: Imran Khan Clashes with Police in Lahore as Arrest Operation Fails
