Balochistan police on its way to Lahore to arrest Imran

A senior police official says Quetta police is now in search of former prime minister

QUETTA:

Balochistan police have reportedly left for Lahore to arrest former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan.

The Bijli Road police station in Quetta registered a First Information Report (FIR) against Imran on a complaint from a citizen, accusing him of using hate speech against state institutions.

Khalil Kakar, a resident of Nawa Killi, submitted the FIR against Imran Khan. The Quetta police are now in search of the former PM, according to a senior police official.

The PTI on the other hand has launched protests all over the country, including Quetta, against the arrest warrant of their leader.

“Imran Khan is our red line, and we warn the government not to cross this line,” PTI leader Noor Khan Khilji stated during the party’s Quetta protest.

Read more: Imran moves IHC for video-link appearance in hearings

Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah had earlier said that Imran Khan would be brought to Balochistan and kept in Mach Jail.

There had been similar FIRs registered against PTI members Azam Swati and Shahbaz Gill on allegations of using foul language against state institutions. However, those cases were later quashed by the Balochistan High Court.

On March 5, a team of Islamabad police went to Lahore to arrest Imran Khan with court orders, but the PTI chief evaded his arrest. Later, Imran Khan approached a district and sessions court for the cancellation of the arrest warrants. However, the sessions judge rejected his request and upheld the warrants.

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) later gave temporary relief to the PTI chief by suspending the non-bailable arrest warrants against him issued by a district and sessions court in the Toshakhana (gift repository) reference by March 13.

The IHC also directed the deposed premier to appear before the district and sessions court on the same day.