LHC stops Zaman Park operation till IHC decision

Operation stopped till a decision by the Islamabad High Court is given

LAHORE:

Lahore High Court’s Justice Tariq Saleem Sheikh restrained the police officials from continuing the Zaman Park operation till the decision of Islamabad High Court on the non-bailable arrest warrant of the former prime minister and PTI chief, Imran Khan.

Justice Sheikh was hearing different petitions including pleas seeking safe way for petitioner Imran Khan to reach LHC to get protective bails in different FIRs and to stop the ‘atrocities’ of the police officials inflicting upon the petitioner Imran Khan, his political party and its leadership as well as the general public.

As proceedings commenced, the petitioners and Fawad Chaudhry’s counsel Advocate Azhar Siddique contended the court that the whole city has been sealed for the purpose of only execution of a warrant for arrest. “When we talk with authorities about election, they respond saying they have no force to depute,” he argued.

The procedures are available over how to execute warrant of arrest and when proceeding to declare the relevant person proclaimed offender is to be started, Advocate Siddique argued.

In first phase of the proceedings, Justice Sheikh summoned the law officers representing federal and provincial governments. Justice Sheikh also summoned the deputy attorney general and Advocate General Punjab Shan Gull by 2pm.

Read more: Imran asks supporters to 'carry on struggle' even if killed or arrested

As the proceedings commenced again, all relevant law officers were present in the court room.

This time, PTI’s another counsel Khawaja Tariq Rahim told the court that tear gas shelling at Zaman Park is an unconstitutional act. It is sheer violation of the fundamental rights what is happening at Zaman Park, he argued.

Several hours have passed but the police officials are hell bent upon making Imran Khan’s ‘illegal’ arrest, he argued. At which AGP Shan Gull argued the court that the matter is still pending at Islamabad High Court so the present petition is not maintainable at LHC.

“Who has come to Lahore from Islamabad police,” Justice Sheikh asked. “We are checking it,” the lawyer representing the federal government responded. Islamabad police does not fall under LHC, he further argued. On a point, Justice Sheikh remarked this court will issue arrest warrant in case no one from Islamabad police comes to this court.

However, this time the court summoned the chief secretary Punjab, Inspector General Police (IGP) Punjab, CCPO Lahore at 3pm to get their views over the issue in hands.

All abovementioned officers including Islamabad police officials appeared before the court.

As the proceedings commenced again, Justice Sheikh asked the IGP about the issue at Zaman Park. The IGP, Dr Usman Anwar told the court that he was in election commission’s meeting when Islamabad police sought police contingents to execute the non-bailable arrest warrant of Imran Khan. Shedding light over current status, the IGP told the court that total 59 police officials got injuries. It was the consensus amongst the officials that no one will use the weapons avoiding a Model Town like incident. “We just tried to overpower the situation through water cannon and tear gas shells,” he told the court. But the PTI’s workers used petrol bombs on them. The police vans were set ablaze. Women police officials were tortured.

After that they called the Rangers but the workers attacked on them. The IGP made clear that this is not any operation against Imran Khan, adding it is only the execution of the warrant of arrest. If the court takes back its order, we will stop execution of the court’s order, the IGP furthered.

The chief secretary seconded the IGP’s stance. To which Justice Sheikh remarked that he passes an order stopping operation at Zaman Park till the decision of IHC as he wants peace in Lahore.

We have called the police from other districts, the IGP told the court. It does not matter if the police officials go back two hundred feet. Justice Sheikh observed that the police officials will present at The Mall Road, Canal Road, Dhaprampura. He just passed this order to seize fire between them till the decision of IHC, Justice Sheikh further remarked.

However, Justice Sheikh stopped Zaman Park operation till the decision of Islamabad High Court and adjourned hearing for March 16 at 10am.