Lahore High Court suspends police operations to arrest Imran Khan till 10 am tomorrow

According to Dawn, the Lahore High Court on Wednesday halted a police operation to arrest former Prime Minister of Pakistan and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan until 10 a.m. tomorrow at Zaman Park.

This comes after a day of escalation between PTI supporters and law enforcement agencies outside former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s residence. For the past two days, police have been closing in on Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan’s residence in Zaman Park in order to arrest him.
As law enforcement agencies backed down, PTI workers celebrated outside Zaman Park. According to police, the court-ordered operation was halted to accommodate Pakistan Super League matches, according to Dawn.

“Police will not advance on Khan’s residence until the ongoing Pakistan Super League (PSL) 8 cricket match is over,” sources quoted police officials as saying.

Following the withdrawal of the police, PTI chief Imran Khan emerged from his residence wearing a mask and met with the workers. PTI’s Twitter account shared the video. These orders were issued by LHC Justice Tariq Saleem Sheikh while hearing a petition filed by PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry to stop the “atrocities” outside Zaman Park.

The court had previously ordered the Punjab inspector general, chief secretary, and Islamabad police (operations) head to appear in court by 3 p.m., according to Dawn. On Wednesday morning, Islamabad Police, assisted by Punjab Police and Rangers, resumed their efforts to arrest the ex-premier in connection with the Toshkhana case, which had begun on Tuesday. Imran has repeatedly avoided indictment, resulting in the judge issuing non-bailable arrest warrants for him.

They were met with fierce opposition from PTI workers, who pelted stones at them. The police retaliated with tear gas canisters. Following the failure of the police to apprehend PTI Chairman Imran Khan, a large number of Punjab Rangers arrived at the former prime minister’s Zaman Park residence earlier today to carry out court orders.

According to Geo News, police and rangers arrived at the PTI leader’s residence in Zaman Park. The incident occurred after police used tear gas in the area to disperse PTI workers. PTI supporters clashed with police several times overnight while he remained holed up in his Zaman Park home, defying arrest. Meanwhile, law enforcement had detained PTI employees.

Throughout the night, police engaged in pitched battles with supporters of Khan’s PTI near his residence, firing teargas and dodging rocks thrown by enraged crowds.