PTI protests unfold as police launch operation to arrest Imran Khan

Islamabad Police DIG amongst a number of wounded in clashes n Police use water cannon, fireplace tear fuel shells, detain many protesters n Imran’s supporters pelted police with stones throughout hours-long struggle n PTI employees block main roads in massive cities on Imran’s name

n Imran strikes IHC in opposition to warrants in Toshakhana case.

LAHORE/ISLAMABAD/KARACHI    –    Dozens of individuals had been wound­ed throughout violent clashes be­tween police and Pakistan Teh­reek-e-Insaf (PTI) protesters outdoors the residence of former prime minister Imran Khan in Lahore’s Zaman Park because the po­lice tried to arrest PTI chairman on Tuesday. 

Police sources claimed that DIG Operation Islamabad Shahzad Bukhari and 5 different policemen of the power had been in­jured in clashes with PTI protes­tors who pelted the police with stones. The police used water cannon, fired tear fuel shells and arrested a number of Imran’s sup­porters amid clashes. 

In keeping with a police spokes­man, stones had been pelted from roof of the home of Imran Khan however policemen confirmed maxi­mum persistence. SP Rana Tahir Hussain changed the DIG Opera­tions whereas SSP (Operations) La­hore Shoaib Ashraf and SP Sar­faraz Virk are additionally current on the spot, the Islamabad police spokesman added.

Protests broke out in several components of the nation on the decision of Chairman Pakistan Teh­reek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan after social gathering employees clashed with the police at Zaman Park in La­hore. The PTI employees began protests in Islamabad, Rawalpin­di, Karachi, and Peshawar amongst different cities after former prime minister Khan via a video message requested his followers to “come out” following Islamabad police reached his Zaman Park residence to arrest him.

The Zaman Park neighbor­hood of Lahore was a battlefield because the police and the PTI activists engaged in a pitched battle when the federal and Punjab police reached there on Tuesday afternoon to arrest the social gathering chief Imran Khan in a Toshakhana case. 

Armed with golf equipment and stones, the relentless PTI employees gave an actual robust time to the police as they braved the heavy shell­ing, baton cost and assault by the water cannon. They put up a powerful resistance in opposition to the police motion and didn’t let the legislation enforcers to get near the residence of their chief.

Scores of social gathering activists and po­licemen sustained accidents within the clashes which continued from 2:00pm until late at evening. The in­jured policemen had been shifted to close by hospitals for remedy. Although the police had cordoned off all of the roads resulting in Zaman park residence of Imran Khan, the variety of PTI employees saved rising as an increasing number of activ­ists managed to achieve the spot from completely different components of town. They pelted stones on the police and saved it engaged at completely different factors across the Zaman Park. The connecting level of The Mall and Canal Street and Dha­rampura locality had been the principle areas the place essentially the most intensive skirmishes had been witnessed be­tween the police and the PTI supporters. 

The cover and search between the police and PTI employees con­tinued until late at evening. This was the second try by Islam­abad police to arrest the PTI chief with the help of La­hore police. 

Capital Police arrived at Khan’s residence with a heavy contingent of Punjab Police to arrest Imran Khan at round 2 pm. Islamabad Police Deputy Inspector Common (DIG) Opera­tions Shahzad Bukhari spoke to media representatives and ex­plained that motion was being taken in opposition to the Imran Khan in Toshakhana case. As quickly because the police arrived, the PTI employees gathered outdoors Imran Khan’s residence in good quantity and camped on the entrance as they raised slogans in opposition to the police and the federal government .

With the assistance of an armoured car, the police steadily moved in the direction of Imran Khan’s residence and through this at­tempt it confronted sturdy resistance by the PTI employees leading to a bodily altercation. 

A helicopter was additionally seen making spherical above Zaman Park for surveillance purpos­es of the problematic space, as part of the operation of the legislation enforcement businesses. Ever for the reason that makes an attempt to arrest Im­ran Khan, for the primary time, po­lice managed to cross the se­curity barrier of Zaman Park and reached gate no 1 of the residence. However they had been pushed again on account of se­vere resistance put by the PTI employees. A number of shells had been additionally fired immediately at Imran’s residence which landed contained in the premises and on the roof of Imran Khan’s home. The PTI launched a video on Twitter wherein tear fuel shells might seen falling inside Imran Khan’s res­idence. Because the state of affairs received out management, a contingent of Rang­ers additionally arrived outdoors Zaman Park within the night.

The Islamabad Police got here into motion after the District and Classes Court docket of Islamabad is­sued non-bailable warrant of Imran Kahn attributable to his continu­ous absence within the courtroom within the Tosha Khana case.

The courtroom had directed the po­lice to provide Imran Khan within the courtroom on March 18.

In the meantime, Pakistan Teh­reek-e-Insaf chief Hassan Ni­azi mentioned that they may obtain the warrant and problem it within the Excessive Court docket. “We do not have faith in the police”, he mentioned, add­ing that employees consider that police have include a con­spiracy to kill Imran Khan. 

Additionally, PTI chief Farrukh Habib mentioned that there was a risk to Imran Khan’s life, add­ing he alleged that the situa­tions had been being created the place Khan’s safety might be compro­mised. Wanting on the deterio­ranking state of affairs, Shah Mehmood Qureshi stepped of Zaman Park together with different social gathering leaders and mentioned: “I have come out to ask the police not to endanger the lives of people here unnec­essarily; we are peaceful peo­ple and we are not taking the law into our hands”. 

It might be recalled right here that on March fifth earlier this month, the Islamabad police got here to Zaman Park to arrest Imran Khan. The native courtroom of Islamabad had is­sued a non-bailable arrest conflict­rant in opposition to Imran Khan for his continued absence within the To­sha Khana case listening to. The po­lice, nevertheless, went again emp­ty-handed with out arresting the PTI chief though the Islamabad police chief had mentioned earlier that they won’t return with out ar­resting Imran Khan. On Mon­day the District and Classes Court docket Islamabad rejected Imran Khan’s plea for exemption from attendance within the Tosha Khana case and reinstated his non-bail­in a position arrest warrant. The courtroom is­sued the orders to arrest Imran Khan and ordered to provide him earlier than courtroom on March 18.

In the meantime, PTI management urged the social gathering office-bearers and employees to return out throughout the nation in protest in opposition to the federal government’s plan to detain PTI chief. They mentioned that work­ers ought to present solidarity with the PTI chairman who had been combating a conflict of the long run gen­eration. PTI Secretary Gener­al Asad Umar mentioned that after the previous document of Toshakhana got here to limelight, making an attempt Imran Khan in the identical case was not solely a joke within the nation, however it will additionally make Pakistan a laughing inventory on this planet.

He mentioned that Islamabad Excessive Court docket (IHC) would take up their petition in opposition to the continued Zaman Park operation at this time and there was no justification for persevering with it.

PTI Senior Vice President Fawad Chaudhry urged that the folks ought to come onto the streets to document a peaceable professional­take a look at. He mentioned that PTI organiza­tions ought to play a job in mak­ing these protests peaceable and announce the place.

“It seems entire Punjab police is turning into a force for ter­rorism against PTI leadership and workers because they are so petrified of the people’s sup­port Imran Khan commands,” mentioned PTI Senior Vice President Dr. Shireen Mazari whereas lashing out at each federal and Punjab governments.

Caretaker Chief Minister Pun­jab Mohsin Naqvi visited Ser­vices Hospital right here on Tues­day to inquire after injured DIG Operations Islamabad Shahzad Bukhari and different po­licemen who had been injured within the stone-pelting by members of a political social gathering. He inquired concerning the well-being of DIG Op­erations Shahzad Bukhari and different policemen and directed the hospital administration for the remedy of the DIG and different policemen. The Chief Min­ister prayed for the speedy re­covery of DIG Shahzad Bukhari and different policemen. Whereas ap­preciating the dedication of DIG Shahzad Bukhari and different po­licemen to their responsibility, the Chief Minister mentioned that they’ve set an ideal instance of dedica­tion. Mohsin Naqvi mentioned that he was happy with them. He mentioned that their strategy was skilled to make sure the supremacy of the legislation. The weather who pelted stones on the police power could be delivered to justice, he add­ed. Provincial Minister Dr Javed Akram was additionally current.

ISLAMABAD POLICE TO TAKE LEGAL ACTION AGAINST THOSE OBSTRUCTING IMRAN KHAN’S ARREST

The Islamabad Capital Ter­ritory (ICT) Police on Tuesday mentioned authorized motion could be tak­en in opposition to those that had been ob­structing the implementation of the courtroom orders relating to the arrest of Pakistan Tehreek-e-In­saf Chairman Imran Khan within the Toshakhana case.

An ICT Police workforce had been in Lahore since yesterday to adjust to the courtroom orders and the Punjab Police had been ex­tending their help to it, an Islamabad Police spokesperson mentioned. He mentioned the Deputy Inspec­tor Common (Operations) and the Senior Superintendent of Police had been protected. The Police in Rawalpindi on Tuesday cleared all site visitors routes of town from the protestors of a political par­ty who had choked some thor­oughfares and dispersed them after obligatory motion. 

In keeping with the Rawalpindi Police spokesperson, the work­ers pelted stones on the police, whereas the police dispersed the protestors by baton cost and tear fuel shelling.

He added {that a} political par­ty’s employees staged a protest at Liaquat Bagh whereas there was at present no protest at there.

“Murree Road is open from both sides and traffic is flowing. Moreover, the workers gathered at Committee Chowk were also dispersed. The workers who had gathered in Taxila were also dis­persed by the police,” the Police spokesperson mentioned. He mentioned traf­fic was saved flowing by proscribing the employees gathered at Kachhari Chowk to the roadside. All excessive­methods within the metropolis had been open.

On the event, Metropolis Po­lice Officer (CPO) Syed Khalid Mehmood Hamdani mentioned nobody could be allowed to take the legislation into their palms or block highways, including the residents had been requested to cooperate with the police.