LAHORE: The Punjab Police is expected to launch a “grand operation” to arrest the what the government called terrorists holed up at Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan’s Zaman Park residence here, local media reported citing sources.
According to the police, all roads leading towards Zaman Park have been blocked with a heavy contingent of law-enforcement personnel present in the area. The Punjab government had, a day earlier, given a 24-hour ultimatum to the PTI chief to turn in the “terrorists” ‘who had taken refuge in the former prime minister’s house’. The ultimatum would end at 2pm today (Thursday).
Local media quoting sources said that the “grand operation” may be launched after the deadline expires at 2pm. They said that the Inspector General of Punjab police (IGP) and the capital city police officer (CCPO) have asked the police to remain “vigilant”.
Punjab interim Information Minister Amir Mir Wednesday night said that the Punjab government has no plans so far of arresting PTI Chairman. “First let the 24-hour deadline expire, then the government will reveal its plans,” the provincial caretaker minister said during an interview with a private Tv channel.
The minister’s comment came hours after the PTI chief expressed fears that he might be arrested. “Probably my last tweet before my next arrest. Police has [sic] surrounded my house,” the PTI chief said in a tweet. He was ousted as PM in April 2022. Amir Mir further said that Imran Khan is inciting people, “just like always”. He said the PTI chairman was “lying”.
In his press conference earlier in the day, the minister gave the Imran-led party a 24-hour deadline to hand over the “30-40 terrorists that have taken refuge” at the former PM’s Lahore residence to the police.
“PTI should hand over these terrorists or the law will take its course,” warned the minister. He said that the government was aware of the presence of these “terrorists” as it had credible intelligence in this regard.
On Wednesday, PTI chief allowed media to visit his residence. “The reason behind allowing the media to have a look at his residence is to show them the people present over there,” he said. Several PTI workers had also arrived at Zaman Park after the information minister’s warning that an “operation” would be launched after 24 hours.
Crackdown against PTI
PTI workers and leaders are being arrested back-to-back in connection with violent protests on May 9 following the party chairman’s arrest from LHC in which the army headquarters was also attacked. Thousands of workers and top-tier leadership including Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Shireen Mazari and Asad Umar — have been arrested under the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO). The crackdown followed the annnouncement by the government that vowed to bring all the vandals to justice, with the army being determined to ensure such incidents do not take place again. The PTI leaders have distanced themselves from the attacks on military installations and held that it supports the armed forces.
