As Imran Khan stayed holed up in his Lahore home in anticipation of his potential arrest, Pakistani police and his supporters continued to fight.
Imran Khan, 70, was found guilty by Pakistan’s election commission in October of selling gifts to foreign officials without authorization. The former cricketer-turned-politician was charged last week in a misconduct court. After Mr. Khan failed to appear for his notice, an arrest warrant was issued.
According to Pakistani law, which governs Islamabad’s “Toshakhana” (Persian for “treasure house”), politicians can keep official state gifts by giving the government a certain proportion of their worth.
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party of Imran Khan asserted that his home is under “extreme attack” and requested assistance. Rangers and police engaged in open fire. Zaman Park is being attacked viciously! Everyone must arrive immediately! Tweets from PTI.
To disperse the hundreds of Mr. Khan’s followers who had congregated outside his home on Tuesday to prevent his arrest, Pakistani police used water cannons and tear gas. During the altercation with the police, Mr. Khan’s group lost one of its activists.
The detention of Mr. Khan, according to Mr. Khan, was part of a “London plan” to bring all charges against former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to a conclusion. This is a part of the London plot, according to Mr. Khan, and an agreement has been reached there to imprison Imran, bring down the PTI, and conclude all legal proceedings against Nawaz Sharif.
After Mr. Khan ignored numerous court summonses, officers were called from Islamabad to serve him with an arrest warrant twice in recent weeks.
Mr. Khan issued a video message as chaos erupted outside his home. announcing: “The cops are here to take me into custody. They believe that if Imran Khan is imprisoned, the populace will fall asleep. You must disprove their claims and demonstrate the existence of the qaum (people).
“You must take to the streets to defend your liberties. Imran Khan has received everything from God. I am engaged in your conflict. I’ve fought my entire existence and will do so in the future. But you have to demonstrate that you can fight even without Imran Khan in case something occurs to me—say, if they imprison or kill me. You must demonstrate that you will never tolerate this sex slavery or this one man’s rule. He concluded, “Pakistan zindabad.
Ali Bilal alias Zille Shah, a PTI employee, was killed in a car mishap on Monday, and the Lahore police arrested Mr. Khan in connection with the incident. The Lahore police had previously filed a FIR for Shah’s homicide against Mr. Khan and 400 other people.
In a video posted on his official social media accounts, Mr. Khan stated that he is ready to provide a surety bond stating that he will show up in court on Saturday.
