Zaman Park clashes: LHC directs police to stop operation till tomorrow morning
LAHORE/ISLAMABAD: The Lahore High Court (LHC) Wednesday directed police to stop its operation in Lahore’s Zaman Park till tomorrow morning as the law enforcers tried to arrest Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan, but seemingly failed to do so despite the passage of nearly 24 hours.
The police had started already retreating from the PTI chief’st residence before the LHC’s orders in light of the Pakistan Super League — which has shifted to Punjab’s capital for the playoffs stage.
“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, shortly after which [olice and other security officials were seen leaving Zaman Park.
Shortly after the LHC’s orders, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) told Khan to move the trial court and provide the lower court with an undertaking that he will present himself on a specific date — meaning that his arrest warrants in the Toshakhana case are still valid.
After the withdrawal of the police, the PTI chief came out of his residence, in a mask, and met the workers, a video shared on PTI’s official account showed.
Earlier today, following the police’s failure in arresting the PTI chairman, a large number of Punjab Rangers arrived at the former prime minister’s Zaman Park residence to implement court orders.
As per Geo News, the police and rangers reached the residence of the PTI leader at Zaman Park. The development came after police fired teargas in the area to disperse the PTI workers.
On the other hand, hospital sources told Geo News that at least 54 cops and eight citizens have been injured in the clashes that have been ongoing since yesterday.
PTI supporters clashed repeatedly with police overnight while he remained holed up in his Zaman Park residence, defying attempts to arrest him. Meanwhile, the law enforcers also arrested the PTI workers.
Police fought pitched battles with supporters of Khan’s PTI near his residence throughout the night, firing fusillades of teargas and dodging rocks thrown by angry crowds.
The police action to implement court orders started on Tuesday when a heavy contingent surrounded the area, however, a charged crowd denied the law enforcers any opportunity to arrest their leader.