Cops revisit a quiet Zaman Park

Police blocked traffic from the Mall Road to the Zaman Park on Wednesday amid speculations about a new crackdown at former prime minister Imran Khan’s home.

Heavy contingents of police were deputed at different places near Zaman Park, including The Mall, Garrhi Shahu and Canal Road. Citizens faced severe problems due to the closure of the Canal Road.

Provincial caretaker Information Minister Amir Mir had alleged earlier that 30 to 40 “terrorists involved in the attack on the Jinnah House are hiding in Zaman Park”.

On other hand, PTI chairman Imran Khan showed portions of his house to the media and said there was no terrorist there.

The caretaker minister had given a 24-hour ultimatum to the PTI leadership to hand over the suspects to the police.

After the announcement, ,contingents of the police reached Mall Road and Garhi Shahu near Zaman Park in the afternoon. The police started a search operation and checking of big vehicles coming from Canal Road, Mall Road and Zaman Park.

According to sources, the police arrested people who had PTI flags or other things related to the party in their vehicles. The police restricted many vehicles from going towards Zaman Park as they had PTI flags.

There was a low number of PTI activists in Zaman Park before the police arrived and more workers were not seen even after the police reached nearby areas.

There was no standoff as only about 15 PTI activists carrying sticks were there.

According to the IG Dr Usman Anwer, almost 3,500 people have been arrested so far over suspicion of being involved in attacks, stone pelting and arson in Punjab. He said the police were working to identify the elements involved in the riots.

The caretaker information minister said there was intelligence information about presence of terrorists in Zaman Park.

Former prime minister Imran Khan was at his residence till late night.

After the statement of the caretaker minister, he called media persons present outside his home and said the media should check themselves whether there were terrorists in Zaman Park.

He said the media could check that there was no terrorist and only security guards were doing their routine duty.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 18^th, 2023.