LAHORE: A team of Islamabad Police has arrived in Lahore to seek local police assistance in making arrest of Chairman PTI Imran Khan in Toshakhana Case. This comes just two days after President Arif Alvi announced April 30 as date for elections in Punjab.
https://twitter.com/Durayshehwar22/status/1632292110542991360
Also read: ATC، Banking Court grant bail, session court issues non bailable warrants of Imran Khan
According to details via multiple media outlets, Imran Khan’s arrest warrants had been issued by Additional Session Judge Zafar Iqbal in Toshakhana case, after which a team of the federal capital police led by SP City Hussain Tahir arrived in Lahore to day to seek assistance of local police to comply with the court’s order.
The arrest warrants were issued on February 28 for Khan’s failure to appear in the court despite being summoned repeatedly.
زمان پارک۔۔!! pic.twitter.com/FrRmqNVqbm
— Khurram Iqbal (@khurram143) March 5, 2023
Session Judge Zafar Iqbal had rejected Khan’s exemption plea and issued non bailable arrest warrants of Imran Khan for failing to appear despite being summoned, and adjourned the hearing until March 7.
However, responding to media queries, Sub-Inspector Nadeem said his team had arrived here from Islamabad only to hand over court’s notice, and not to arrest Imran Khan.
عمران خان کو توشہ خانہ کیس میں نوٹس دینے آئے ہیں۔ گرفتار کرنے نہیں . #ZamanPark میں ایس پی حسن اسلام آباد پولیس کا بیان۔ pic.twitter.com/TaGdeOL8XM
— Malik Ali Raza (@MalikAliiRaza) March 5, 2023
In the meanwhile, Islamabad Police took to Twitter and contradicted Sub-Inspector Nadeem’s statement, saying the team had gone to Lahore to arrest Imran Khan.
عدالتی احکامات کے مطابق عمران خان کی گرفتاری کےلیے اسلام آباد پولیس کی ٹیم لاہور پہنچی ہے۔
لاہور پولیس کے تعاون سے تمام کارروائی مکمل کی جارہی ہے۔
عدالتی احکامات کی تکمیل میں رکاوٹ ڈالنے والوں کے خلاف قانونی کارروائی عمل میں لائی جائے گی۔
1/2— Islamabad Police (@ICT_Police) March 5, 2023
Moments later, TV outlets ran tickers quoting IG Islamabad as saying “there are orders to arrest Imran Khan, I urge upon PTI workers not to obstruct his arrest as it will be a crime, the notice served is arrest order of Khan.” He further said team of Islamabad Police will only return once Imran Khan’s arrest is made.”
Hours later, it was emerged that Senator Shibli Faraz received the arrest warrant and returned the same with note “Chairman Imran Khan is not available, however, we will comply with all legal process.”
بریکنگ اپڈیٹ
لاہور: شبلی فراز نے عمران خان کے وارنٹ گرفتاری وصول کئیے
ّعمران خان موجود نہیں، تمام قانونی طریقہ کار کی تمعیل ہوگی'
شبلی فراز کی تحریر pic.twitter.com/wZxac5Ieiy— MM News (@mmnewsdottv) March 5, 2023
Meanwhile, a large number of PTI workers formed a large human barricade to prevent police from approaching Khan’s residence in Zaman Park.
PTI’s reaction:
Reacting strongly over Islamabad Police’s arrival in Lahore, senior leader Fawad Chaudhry warned that any attempt to arrest Imran Khan would seriously aggravate the situation.
“I want to warn this incompetent and anti-Pakistan government not to push Pakistan into further crisis and act sensibly, the workers should reach Zaman Park,” said Fawad Chaudhry while posting on Twitter.
عمران خان کی گرفتاری کی کوئ بھی کوشش حالات کو شدید خراب کر دے گی، میں اس نا اھل اور پاکستان دشمن حکومت کو خبردار کرنا چاہ رہا پاکستان کو مزید بحران میں نہ دھکیلیں اور ہوش سے کام لیں، کارکنان زمان پارک پہنچ جائیں
— Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) March 5, 2023
Another leader Hammad Azhar too took to Twitter and urged upon PTI workers to immediately rush to Zaman Park.
تمام کارکن فوری طور پر زمان پارک پہنچیں۔
— Hammad Azhar (@Hammad_Azhar) March 5, 2023
Sheikh Rashid:
Responding to question about Imran Khan’s possible arrest, the head of Awami Muslim League (AML) Sheikh Rashid said the rulers have gone bonker and wanted to turn Pakistan into Sri Lanka. He further said that the rulers would face repercussions under article 6 of the constitution.
