Imran evades arrest amid high drama

PTI supporters prevent police from entering Zaman Park residence; Shibli Faraz tells police party chief not available

LAHORE:

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan on Sunday evaded arrest as his supporters prevented the Islamabad police from entering his Zaman Park residence in Lahore amid high drama.

However, the police were able to serve the notice on the PTI chief, handing it to his chief of staff Shibli Faraz, for “compliance” of the arrest warrants issued by the sessions court of the federal capital in the Toshakhana case.

On March 1, the court issued non-bailable arrest warrants for Imran in the Toshakhana case hours after the PTI chief secured bail from an anti-terrorism court (ATC) and the banking court in two other cases.

Imran was required to appear before Additional Sessions Judge Zafar Iqbal. On his non-appearance in the case, the court rejected his application for exemption from personal attendance and issued the arrest warrants.

On Sunday, a team of the Islamabad police led by Superintendent of Police (SP) City Hussain Tahir reached Zaman Park for the compliance of the warrant. Senator Faraz, reportedly, told the police that Imran was not available.

Senator Faraz received the notice and assured the police team that "we will comply with all legal processes". SP Tahir later told the media that Faraz had assured them that Imran would ensure his appearance before the court.

The police team had arrived in Lahore in the morning. Before leaving for Zaman Park, it sought help from the Lahore police. The officers and officials of the Lahore police later escorted the Islamabad team to Zaman Park at noon.

However, at Imran’s residence, the policemen were met with angry PTI activists, who were carrying clubs and other objects. As the police tried to approach the entrance of Imran’s residence, they offered resistance.

The PTI supporters also raised slogans in Imran’s favour until Faraz approached the team and spoke to them. The police team remained in the surroundings of Zaman Park for over an hour after meeting Faraz.

Three to four prisons vans had also been moved to the surroundings. However, hours later, Imran appeared before the media and addressed a news conference though Faraz had told the police that he was not available.

Speaking on the occasion, Imran informed the public about the hearing of the Toshakhana and all other cases against him so that the people could know why he was being summoned in one court after another.

He said that he still faced serious life threat and that he was being exposed on the pretext of court hearing. “They (the police) know there is a threat to my life,” Imran said, adding that the courts did not provide adequate security.

“I faced threat from those who are supposed to provide protection. I will write to the chief justice of Pakistan through my lawyers that who will be responsible if anything happens to me,” he continued.

“When I was the prime minister, I was told if anything happened to Nawaz Sharif during jail, I will be responsible. Now, I ask those who are in power that who will be responsible if another attack is made on my life,” he added.

The PTI chief pointed out that the prime suspect in the Wazirabad attack case in November last year, “is appearing in court through video link because his life is under threat, but a former prime minister is being dragged in one court after another”.

“Even the interior ministry has warned that my life is under threat but still I am being summoned even without proper security arrangements,” Imran said, adding that he had been implicated in “petty and fake” cases.

“Over 74 fake cases have been registered against me,” Imran said, adding that the current rulers, who were supposed “to get convicted in the multibillion-rupee corruption cases” had been “given NRO [amnesty] and imposed” on the country.

He mentioned that Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Senior Vice President Maryam Nawaz was being provided security by the provincial government, when she did not hold any public office,” he added.

“The crime minister [prime minister] was about to be convicted in a Rs8 billion money laundering case… [but] he was rescued by [former army chief] Gen (retd) Qamar Javed Bajwa and, while under trial, he [Shehbaz Sharif] was made the prime minister,” he charged.

Taking a dig at the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Co-chairman Asif Zardari, Imran said that he was playing his game from behind the scene and that he was “one of the most corrupt persons” in Pakistan.

“What future can a country have when crooks are thrusted upon it as rulers?” he said, underscoring that the country was passing through the worst times and only a strong leadership could pull it out of the current crisis.

Taking notice of Imran’s speech, the Islamabad police vowed to take action against Faraz for misguiding and misinforming them in carrying out the legal proceedings. They said legal action would be taken against those obstructing compliance of court orders.

The police said that the PTI leaders at Zaman Park had assured them that Imran would abide by the law. The police expressed the hope that the PTI chairman would appear before the court on March 7.

However, while talking to the media about the alleged misinformation, Senator Faraz stood by his words as per situation and circumstances. He added that if he had committed a crime, an action should be initiated against him.

Akbar Nasir Khan, the inspector general of Islamabad police, told the media hat there was no ambiguity about the arrest in the warrants. He said that the court had issued directions to him (Imran) to appear before the court.

“The police teams from Islamabad and Lahore were present there and he [Imran] should cooperate for compliance of the court orders and should not create an obstruction in its execution [of the warrants],” the Islamabad IG added.

Meanwhile, the top brass of the Lahore police also held a meeting to mull over the role it could play regarding the arrest of Imran on the court orders, sources told The Express Tribune.

Till late night, the presence of police contingents had been increased in the surroundings of Zaman Park. The reserves of Anti-Riot Force (ARF) at Qila Gujjar Singh – which is hardly two kilometres away from Zaman Park, were also put on high alert.

Protective bail

Meanwhile, the PTI’s legal team, was able to file three protective bail applications – two in the cases registered at the Ramana Police Station Islamabad and one in the Toshakhana case – in the Lahore High Court (LHC) to prevent Imran’s arrest.

Imran’s counsel advocate Azhar Siddique confirmed that “they visited the Chief Justice House where the LHC registrar was also present, the numbers on their three petitions were allotted and fixed for hearing” on March 6 (today).

"It is a settled principle that police could not make arrest of that person whose bail is filed and fixed for hearing and if it is done so it falls under the contempt of court and tantamount to make mockery of the judgments of the superior court," Siddique said.

(WITH INPUT FROM RANA YASIF)