Pakistan rangers arrived at Imran Khan’s residence in Lahore’s Zaman Park on Wednesday morning, following clashes between Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf supporters and police the previous night over the arrest of the former Pakistani Prime Minister. The authorities were attempting to arrest him in connection with the Toshakhana case, for which two non-bailable arrest warrants were issued against him on Monday, Dawn reported. Imran Khan has skipped the indictment hearings in the case three times.
Khan has been accused of buying gifts, including an expensive Graff wristwatch he had received as the premier at a discounted price from the state depository called Toshakhana and selling them for profit. On March 7, the IHC suspended Imran’s non-bailable arrest warrants till March 13 and instructed him to appear before the sessions court.
Imran Khan on Wednesday took to Twitter and said that after the party workers and the leadership faced police onslaught, now Rangers have taken over and they are in direct confrontation with the people.
“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 tweeted.
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
“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?”, Khan said in another tweet.
Imran’s counsel Khawaja Haris, on Tuesday, informed the court that his client would not be able to appear. “He is not refusing to appear, but due to security threats he cannot be present,” Imran’s lawyer said. On Monday, the Lahore police booked Khan in a case related to the killing of the PTI worker – Ali Bilal alias Zille Shah – in a road accident. Earlier, the Lahore police had registered an FIR against Khan and 400 others for the murder of Shah.
Protests broke in several cities across Pakistan on Tuesday after a video by Imran Khan asking his supporters to “come out” for real freedom and continue the struggle even if he is killed or arrested. Soon after his speech, protests broke out in Islamabad, Peshawar, Karachi, Faisalabad, Sargodha, Vehari, Peshawar, Quetta, and Mianwali, according to news agency PTI.
Protesters blocked several roads in different cities of Punjab. In Lahore, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) workers blocked several roads to protest the police action. PTI workers have staged a sit-in there and demanded the end of police action against Khan.
In Peshawar, a large number of PTI supporters demonstrated outside the press club. After holding the demonstration, PTI workers blocked Sher Shah Suri road and started marching towards the Governor House. Islamabad police said PTI protesters had blocked Tarnol Road but timely action had been taken to reopen it for traffic.
In the video message, Imran Khan accused the federal government of planning his arrest saying that his arrest is a part of the “London Plan” to finish all cases against the country’s former premier Nawaz Sharif. “This is part of the London plan and an agreement has been signed there to put Imran in jail, make the PTI fall and finish all cases against Nawaz Sharif,” Imran Khan said in the video. He remarked he didn’t understand the reason behind the attack when he had already assured that he would appear before the court on March 18. These comments come as tensions prevailed in the early hours of Wednesday, in Lahore.
