PTI leaders ask workers to refrain from violence

LAHORE:

Senior leaders of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) urged the party workers, who had gathered outside party chief Imran Khan’s residence in Zaman Park to prevent his arrest, to remain calm, respect the law and refrain from violence.

PTI leaders Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Fawad Chaudhry, Azam Swati, Fayyaz-ul-Hassan Chohan, Parvez Elahi, Dr Yasmin Rashid and others along with a large number of party workers were present when a team of Islamabad police visited Imran’s residence.

The police sought the arrest of Imran on the warrants issued by an Islamabad court in the Toshakhana case. However, senior party leader Senator Shibli Faraz told the police that Imran was unavailable.

On the occasion, PTI workers, supporters and citizens of Lahore chanted slogans in favour of Imran and resisted the police party’s entry into the PTI chief’s residence. Later, the senior PTI leaders calmed down the sentiments of the party workers.

Speaking to media and party workers, Qureshi called on the PTI supporters to respect the law and urged them to refrain from violence. “We are a political party, we will also treat this matter politically, you shouldn’t worry, exercise caution,” he asked the supporters.

“The notification police issued had no warrants for the party chairman’s arrest. The meeting between Imran Khan and the party’s legal team will deliberate upon all legal options and make the future course of action,” Qureshi added.

Also talking to the media, Qureshi emphasised that Imran’s security was the only issue the party was worried about. Another senior PTI leader, Fawad Chaudhry, said that The government wanted to arrest Imran to silence the people of Pakistan and put them in jail.

 “The main purpose of this arresting drama is to provoke unrest and running away from elections. [Federal Interior Minister] Rana Sanaullah and the Islamabad Police IG [inspector general] want riots to break out in Zaman Park,” Chaudhry told the reporters.

if police arrested Imran, it would be contempt of court because the party chairman had already obtained protected bail till March 9, he added.

PTI Central Punjab General Secretary Hammad Azhar urged the party members to gather at Zaman Park but remain peaceful. The party leaders warned of nationwide protests if their chairman was arrested.