Pakistan: PTI supporters clash with police to prevent Imran Khan’s arrest

A police team that arrived at the residence of ousted Prime Minister Imran Khan in the Zaman Park area of here on Tuesday to arrest him was met with fierce resistance from PTI supporters who braved tear gas and water cannons to keep the police at bay, according to the Pakistan-based Dawn newspaper.
Workers from Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf engaged the police for more than 11 hours.

PTI gained an advantage in Lahore on Tuesday night. The influx of supporters into Zaman Park forced security personnel to retreat. By midnight, police had lost around 30 people. According to Dawn, at least 15 PTI men have been detained by police, according to Geo News.

Meanwhile, Imran Khan has accused the federal government of plotting his arrest as part of a “London plan” to complete all cases against the country’s former prime minister, Nawaz Sharif.

In a video message, Khan said, “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.” He also stated that he does not understand the reason for the attack on people because he has already stated that he will appear in court on March 18.

To avoid chaos, the former prime minister said he gave an undertaking to the president of the Lahore High Court Bar Association, who then attempted to forward it to the DIG who was coming to arrest him, but the DIG did not meet with the Bar president.

“According to Code of Criminal Procedure Section 76, if this surety bond is given to the arresting officer, then I cannot be arrested,” Imran said.

The PTI chief stated that the DIG had no reason to refuse the undertaking and pointed to malicious intent. Protests erupted in Islamabad, Peshawar, and Karachi after Imran Khan called on his supporters to “come out” after police used tear gas and a water cannon on supporters outside Zaman Park, where the PTI party chairman was holed up.

To avoid chaos, the former prime minister said he gave an undertaking to the president of the Lahore High Court Bar Association, who then attempted to forward it to the DIG who was coming to arrest him, but the DIG did not meet with the Bar president.

“According to Code of Criminal Procedure Section 76, if this surety bond is given to the arresting officer, then I cannot be arrested,” Imran said.

The PTI chief stated that the DIG had no reason to refuse the undertaking and pointed to malicious intent. Protests erupted in Islamabad, Peshawar, and Karachi after Imran Khan called on his supporters to “come out” after police used tear gas and a water cannon on supporters outside Zaman Park, where the PTI party chairman was holed up.

The events in Zaman Park did not go unnoticed by Mr. Khan’s supporters across the country, and PTI workers protested in several cities. According to Samaa English, the Punjab police sought more water cannons on both sides of Canal Road and fired tear gas shells at PTI workers.

A large number of PTI supporters demonstrated outside the press club in Peshawar. Following the protest, PTI workers blocked Sher Shah Suri Road and began marching toward the Governor’s House.
According to Islamabad police, PTI protesters had blocked Tarnol Road, but prompt action had been taken to reopen it to traffic.

 “A case has been registered in Tarnol Police Station against the PTI workers who blocked the road on the orders of Imran Khan,” a police officer said.

People in Chowrangi Karachi, Staged a dharna by setting tyres on fire in protest of the “atrocities” committed.