ATC declares search warrants for Imran's Zaman Park residence 'ineffective'

Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) judge declared ineffective the search warrant issued to search former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s Zaman Park residence.

An ATC in Lahore summoned DIG operations to provide an explanation for the search warrants issued for Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief's residence.

Notably, the ATC had issued the warrants on May 18 that have been challenged by the PTI chairman.

As the proceedings commenced, commissioner and DC Lahore and other officials appeared before ATC judge Abhar Gull's court.

The judge inquired why the officials visited Imran's residence, to which the commissioner responded that they had not yet implemented the search warrant.

"We visited Zaman Park to remove encroachments," he said, contending that the PTI chief had consented to their removal as well.

The judge questioned whether the police required the search warrant.

The Investigation Officer (IO) replied that they needed some time to consult and would only then be in a position to provide further answers.

However, the judge adjourned the proceedings for a short period and summoned DIG Operations in person instead.

Read May 9 riots: ‘8 terrorists’ escaping Zaman Park

It may be noted that on May 18, the government team had insisted that it would search the entire premises without any household member on the ground but the former premier sought the implementation of the Lahore High Court’s order.

The LHC, according to Imran who had spoken to the media after the team left his residence, had permitted that "there will be one person from their (government) side and one from ours, along with a female officer".

However, following the visit of the team led by the Lahore commissioner, the authorities removed encroachments placed at Zaman Park.

Afterward, the police officials deployed to the area in case of any untoward situation had also been called back.

The team of government officials, including Lahore Commissioner Muhammad Ali Randhawa, DCO Rafia Haider, DIG Police Operations Sadiq Ali Dogar and SSP Sohaib Ashraf, along with search warrants had entered Zaman Park and held a meeting with Imran to delineate the Terms of Reference (ToRs) for the search operation.

The team remained present inside the premises for quite a considerable period of time. However, they did not reach any agreement.