Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan on Wednesday urged the judiciary and the establishment not to become a party to the ‘London plan’.
Displaying tear gas shells that he claimed had been found around his residence, the PTI chief dismissed all Toshakhana charges against him as “frivolous”. He also maintained that the court where he has been summoned is not “safe”.
Imran maintained that those currently in the government are the same people who were behind the Wazirabad attack during his party's long march.
“All I had asked for was security,” he said claiming that on his last appearances at the LHC and the IHC, “there was no security and no protection” whatsoever.
“It is unprecedented that an ex-prime minister faces a murderous attack and after that, he is refused security and it is this [security] that we are requesting for in court and that judge, in turn, issued warrants against me,” Imran said.
The ousted premier maintained that the “warrants simply said that the police should ensure my appearance in court”, and added that the LHCBA president is willing to ensure the same a surety bond.
The PTI chief also said that his “bag was packed” and told his supporters that he was ready to go, but “all our workers knew that they have suffered custodial torture […] and out of that fear they have been fighting outside since last night”.
“I ask what need was there to send the rangers? They were climbing the wall of my house and were about to enter. What crime did I commit that the rangers were sent to attack me here?” he questioned,
“And when the rangers and our people will come face to face against each other, will anyone then believe that our establishment is neutral? And should we ever pit the armed forces and civilians against each other?”
“When the TLP was marching towards Islamabad, the army chief had told at that time that ‘we will never bring the military to oppose civilians’, then why is he doing this now?” Imran said.
“Since my ouster, I have tried my best that I might not be the cause of any violence in this country,” he said maintaining that the PTI had always remained peaceful and whenever the possibility of any untoward event emerged, the event was cancelled in the interest of the country.
Imran implored “the powerful quarters that control the country” – which he clarified were not a part of the government – that if they “care about Pakistan”, they should introspect “where the country is going”.
“What will happen if I am sent to jail? Life and death are up to Allah as is one’s dignity, what will happen? The party will only become stronger, he said but warned that the repercussions for the country would be adverse.
“I have no control over the crowd outside,” the PTI chief said as he warned that if the "attacks' continue “the matter will get out of everyone’s hands”.
“All our hopes cling on to the judiciary and the establishment,” he said as he urged them not to become a party to the ‘London plan’.
'Police refusing to accept undertaking'
In an earlier video message, Imran said police were refusing to accept an 'undertaking' guaranteeing his presence before the court that had issued his arrest warrants, which he claimed was 'only mala fide'.
In a video message recorded at his Lahore residence, the former premier said "as of yesterday afternoon, Zaman Park looked as though it was occupied Kashmir" as he questioned why the police felt the need to "attack" people and cause harm to property with "water canons and tear gas shelling".
چیئرمین عمران خان کا قوم نے نام اہم ترین پیغام!
— PTI (@PTIofficial) March 14, 2023
pic.twitter.com/nrDmkIkYp2
"I don't understand it," he said maintaining that he had been granted bail until March 18 and that "they were aware why I am not going to F-8 Kachehri [district and sessions court] Islamabad, [it is] because there have been two terrorist attacks at that court where lawyers and judges have been martyred".
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Imran expressed concern that the police and Punjab Rangers were again preparing for another push outside his residence "to conquer Zaman Park".
"I gave an undertaking today, only to prevent the violence," he said. "Ishtiaq A Khan, who is the president of the Lahore High Court Bar Association (LHCBA), gave a surety bond which he tried to hand over to the DIG who was coming for my arrest."
But Imran said that the advocate had reported through a public statement that the police officer "intentionally did not meet him".
"Section 76 of the Code of Criminal Procedure posits that if a surety bond is given to the arresting officer then they cannot carry out the arrest," he said explaining that the surety bond he has given stated that he would appear before the court on March 18.
"After this [bond] there are no grounds for the arrest," he said insisting that the only reason the police didn't accept is due to their "ill intentions".
'London plan' against Imran
The PTI chief maintained that an "agreement" was signed in London which outlined that "Imran has to be put in jail to destroy his party and finish all cases against Nawaz Sharif".
Imran maintained that his arrest had "nothing to do with the law" but was in fact part of the 'London' conspiracy.
Read More Standoff at Imran's Zaman Park residence enters second day as skirmishes resume
He insisted that he had "not committed any crimes" and that the only reason the police were bent upon arresting him was due to their "ill intentions".
In a tweet, the PTI chief also said that "clearly the 'arrest' claim was mere drama because real intent is to abduct and assassinate [Imran]. From tear gas and water cannons, they have now resorted to live firing".
Clearly "arrest" claim was mere drama because real intent is to abduct & assassinate. From tear gas & water cannons, they have now resorted to live firing. I signed a surety bond last evening, but the DIG refused to even entertain it. There is no doubt of their mala fide intent. pic.twitter.com/5LZtZE8Ies
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) March 15, 2023
"I signed a surety bond last evening, but the DIG refused to even entertain it. There is no doubt of their mala fide intent", he added.
'Neutral establishment'
Imran also questioned the 'establishment' -- a term used to refer to the country's military elite -- if not intervening against police brutality was its idea of "neutrality".
After our workers & ldrship faced police onslaught since yesterday morning of tear gas, cannons with chemical water, rubber bullets & live bullets this morning; we now have Rangers taking over & are now in direct confrontation with the people. My question to the Establishment,
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) March 15, 2023
to those who claim they are "neutral": Is this your idea of neutrality, Rangers directly confronting unarmed protestors & ldrship of largest pol party when their ldr is facing an illegal warrant & case already in court & when govt of crooks trying to abduct & possibly murder him?
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) March 15, 2023
"My question to the Establishment, to those who claim they are "neutral": Is this your idea of neutrality? Rangers directly confronting unarmed protestors and leadership of the largest political party when their leader is facing an illegal warrant and case already in court and when a government of crooks is trying to abduct and possibly murder him?" he said.
It may be noted that PTI supporters had streamed into the heart of major cities – including the political capital – and scuffled with police contingents throughout Tuesday as authorities struggled to muscle their way through the enraged crowd to arrest former prime minister.
Also Read Imran ‘hiding under bed’ to evade arrest: Maryam
The intense stand-off escalated into a volatile moment after the police almost reached the gates of the PTI chief’s Zaman Park residence from where it was forced to retreat towards Mall Road.
The security forces, who were there to execute the non-bailable arrest warrant for Imran, met with a determined response from party loyalists.
Earlier, an Islamabad sessions court had rejected Imran's exemption from appearance plea and restored his non-bailable arrest warrant in the Toshakhana criminal proceedings case.
Additional Sessions Judge Zafar Iqbal announced the verdict and ordered the former prime minister to appear in court on March 18.
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