Punjab promises foolproof security to Imran

CM Elahi expresses concern over ‘witch-hunt’ against PTI

ISLAMABAD:

Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi on Monday said that his government will make arrangements with regard to providing security to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan and other party leaders amid growing fears of the PTI chief’s arrest in a terrorism-related case.

As PTI leadership warned the authorities concerned that arresting the PTI chief would be crossing a “red line”, the Punjab’s chief minister along with his son, Moonis Elahi, met the former premier at his Bani Gala residence and assured him that Punjab would provide security to him and other PTI leaders.

Since being charged under anti-terror law, the Centre and Punjab are directly exchanging barbs over Imran’s possible arrest. On Sunday night, PTI supporters gathered outside his house, vowing to prevent authorities from arresting him. However, a local court on Monday granted Imran protective bail until Thursday.

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Imran has been holding mass rallies across the country since he was ousted through a vote of no-confidence in April, lambasting the ruling coalition and criticizing state institutions.

The political volatility heightened, especially after Imran’s chief of staff Dr Shahbaz Gill was arrested for allegedly inciting mutiny in the army. Initially, the PTI leadership gave a calculated response but later on geared up for his release and took out a rally against the torture allegedly inflicted upon Gill in police custody.

In the meeting with Imran, Elahi, while expressing serious concerns over political witch-hunt against the PTI, said that the Punjab government stands with the PTI and its leadership in all circumstances.

While discussing the current political situation and public welfare projects in Punjab, the official statement said that the PTI chairman had directed the provincial government to pay special attention to public welfare projects, especially health card and Ehsaas programme.