PTI workers converge at Zaman Park after ICT police arrive to arrest Imran

Islamabad police on Sunday travelled to Lahore to arrest Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan in relation to warrants issued in the Toshakhana (gift repository) case against him. According to police sources, the former premier is avoiding arrest. SP City Rana Hussain Tahir went to the room in Imran's Zaman Park's residence where the PTI chairman was expected to be but he was not there when the police arrived. PTI threatens mass protest Meanwhile, PTI senior leader Fawad Chaudhry has urged all PTI supporters to converge outside Imran's Lahore residence and He told media outside Zaman Park that the purpose of calling Imran to these courts was to attempt yet another attack on him. "They want that he [Imran] comes to court and the terrorist -- who are of their own making  -- get a chance to take Imran Khan's life", he said alleging that the government was behind the plot. He also said that both the federal and the caretaker Punjab governments wanted "to cause anarchy so that polls can be ducked" and "we are dealing with the legal matters as per law in the courts". In the same breath he said that if the PTI chief is arrested, nationwide peaceful protests would be called "the likes of which nobody has ever seen before". Fawad warned that "any attempt to arrest Imran Khan will seriously worsen the situation". عمران خان کی گرفتاری کی کوئ بھی کوشش حالات کو شدید خراب کر دے گی، میں اس نا اھل اور پاکستان دشمن حکومت کو خبردار کرنا چاہ رہا پاکستان کو مزید بحران میں نہ دھکیلیں اور ہوش سے کام لیں، کارکنان زمان پارک پہنچ جائیں — Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) March 5, 2023 Urging the government to "act sensibly" and "not push Pakistan into further crisis", he stressed that the arrest would be "illegal". عدالت کا وارنٹ صرف حاضری کیلئے ہے اسلام آباد پولیس کا گرفتاری پر اصرار غیر قانونی عمل ہے — Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) March 5, 2023 "The court warrant is only for attendance," he said, "Islamabad police's insistence on arrest is illegal". Read Warrants against Imran does not concern US: Price On the other hand, the ICT police has issued a statement on Twitter stating that it is acting as per court orders and "all operations are being completed with the cooperation of Lahore Police". عدالتی احکامات کے مطابق عمران خان کی گرفتاری کےلیے اسلام آباد پولیس کی ٹیم لاہور پہنچی ہے۔ لاہور پولیس کے تعاون سے تمام کارروائی مکمل کی جارہی ہے۔ عدالتی احکامات کی تکمیل میں رکاوٹ ڈالنے والوں کے خلاف قانونی کارروائی عمل میں لائی جائے گی۔ 1/2 — Islamabad Police (@ICT_Police) March 5, 2023 "Legal action will be taken against those obstructing the execution of court orders," the police said. "Police will transfer Imran Khan to Islamabad under their protection. Law is equal for all," the statement added. اسلام آباد پولیس اپنی حفاظت میں عمران خان کو اسلام آباد منتقل کرے گی۔ قانون سب کے لیے برابر ہے۔ 2/2#ICTP — Islamabad Police (@ICT_Police) March 5, 2023 Last week, a district and sessions court in Islamabad had issued non-bailable arrest warrants for the ousted prime minister over his continuous absence before the judge in the Toshakhana case. Though Imran had travelled to Islamabad to appear before different courts in the capital on Tuesday, however, his lawyer had requested Additional Sessions Judge Zafar Iqbal to allow him a leave of absence another time. Imran’s lawyer had argued that he was unable to present Imran before the court. However, he had added that if his client managed to leave the judicial complex in time, he would appear before the court. Read More PML-N claims Imran begging for NRO It may be noted that the sessions court, where the PTI chief had to appear in the Toshakhana reference and an attempted murder case, is located in F-8 Kachehri, which is around a half-an-hour drive away from the judicial complex. Judge Iqbal, irked by the lawyer’s statement, had expressed his dismay that Imran could appear before other courts in the judicial complex but not in this one. “Charges are going to be framed here so he should appear here. Once they have been framed he may leave,” the judge had added. The court later went into recess. After the proceedings had resumed, the judge, while issuing the non-bailable warrants, had adjourned the hearing till March 7.

from Punjab News Updates and Insights - The Express Tribune https://ift.tt/lJv0hRB