Pakistan

Islamabad Police reach Zaman Park to arrest Imran, again

Move comes after a court in Islamabad dismissed ex-PM's plea seeking suspension of non-bailable arrest warrants

News Desk March 16, 2023

Former prime minister Imran Khan stands with people in Zaman Park, after security forces had fired tear gas and water cannons at hundreds of Imran Khan's supporters who had cordoned off his home in an effort to prevent his arrest, in Lahore, Pakistan on March 15, 2023. PHOTO: REUTERS

Islamabad Police have reached Imran Khan's residence in Lahore's Zaman Park once again to arrest him after a district and sessions court in Islamabad on Thursday dismissed Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief's plea seeking suspension of non-bailable arrest warrants issued in the Toshakhana case.

Sources in the Islamabad Police told Express News that the police team, headed by DIG Operations Nadeem Shahzad Bukhari, was dispatched to Lahore to execute Imran Khan's non-bailable arrest warrant.

According to sources, DIG Operations, SHO Secretariat, and 25 other officials have joined the police team at Imran Khan's residence. The Islamabad Police have also requested assistance from the Punjab Police in apprehending the deposed prime minister.

Meanwhile, Punjab Police reportedly made an attempt to arrest PTI leader Dr Yasmin Rashid. But, allowed her to go to her clinic without arresting her later.

ڈاکٹر یاسمین راشد کو پنجاب پولیس انکے کلینک جیل روڈ سے گرفتار کررہی ہے pic.twitter.com/d3xS7edOdL
— PTI (@PTIofficial) March 16, 2023

The police had surrounded the car of Yasmin Rashid near Shadmaan Underpass. Taking to Twitter, the PTI leader had said that police were trying to detain her.

گرفتاری کی کوشش کے بعد ڈاکٹر @Dr_YasminRashid کی گفتگو۔ #زمان_پارک_پُہنچو
pic.twitter.com/bQpZ6pQhs5
— PTI (@PTIofficial) March 16, 2023

On Tuesday and Wednesday, hundreds of Imran Khan's supporters, armed with batons, iron-rods and sling-shots, had surrounded his home in Lahore and fought pitched battles with security forces attempting to arrest him.

Thursday's rejection of Imran's bid to have the arrest warrant suspended came hours after Lahore High Court had ordered police to postpone the operation to arrest the former cricket star until Friday, bringing a temporary lull in the stand-off.

The arrest warrant was issued by a court in Islamabad when Imran failed to appear before it over charges that he unlawfully sold state gifts given to him by foreign dignitaries when he was prime minister from 2018 to 2022. PTI chief denies the charges.

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had found him guilty and barred Imran Khan from holding public office for one parliamentary term.

Imran Khan, 70, had filed an appeal with the Islamabad court to suspend the warrant, submitting an undertaking that he would appear before it voluntarily on Saturday.

But the court said such an undertaking was insufficient, given former premier's previous conduct.

"It is concluded that the application is not justified by law as well as fact, which is hereby rejected," said the Islamabad court's order.

The legal proceedings against Imran Khan began after he was ousted from office in a parliamentary vote early last year. Since then, he has been demanding a snap election and holding nationwide protest rallies, and was shot and wounded in one of those rallies.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has rejected Imran's demands, saying an election would be held as scheduled later this year.

(With additional input from Reuters)