Face-off between Imran Khan’s supporters and police continues
New Delhi:
The Pakistani police’s ‘real intention’ is to abduct and murder him and the arrest plan was ‘mere drama’, former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan told reporters today. amid drama on the streets of Lahore following attempts to take him into custody.
Pakistani leader Tehreek-e-Insaaf made the serious allegation in a post on Twitter after his followers blocked police attempts to arrest him from his Lahore residence. Stones were thrown at the men in uniform, who returned fire with water cannons.
As the face-off between his supporters and law enforcement continues, reinforcements have been called in.
Clearly the claim of “arrest” was just a drama, as the real intent is to kidnap and murder. Tear gas and water cannons, they now resort to live fire. I signed a bond last night, but the DIG wouldn’t even accept it. There is no doubt about their mala fide intent. pic.twitter.com/5LZtZE8Ies
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) March 15, 2023
Khan tweeted visuals of bullet shells today and said they proved police ‘bad faith intent’.
“Clearly the ‘arrest’ request was just a drama, as the real intent is to kidnap and murder. Tear gas and water cannons, they now resort to live fire. I signed a bond last night, but the DIG wouldn’t even accept it. There is no doubt about their bad faith intent,” he added.
Blaming the “Establishment” for sending paramilitary personnel to attack its supporters, he also questioned the position of “those who claim to be ‘neutral’”. “Is this your idea of neutrality, Rangers directly confronting unarmed protesters and the ldrship of the largest political party when their ldr faces an illegal mandate and a case already before the court and when the government of crooks trying to kidnap her and possibly murder her?” he asked.
After our workers and ldrship have been attacked by the police since yesterday morning with tear gas, chemical water cannons, rubber bullets and live ammunition this morning; we now have Rangers taking over and are now in direct confrontation with people. My question to the establishment,
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) March 15, 2023
The 70-year-old politician, also a cricketing legend, is wanted in the Toshakhana corruption case. Last October, Pakistan’s Election Commission found him guilty of illegally selling gifts he had received from foreign dignitaries during his tenure as prime minister. Charges were then filed against him in an anti-corruption court which last week issued a warrant for his arrest after Khan ignored summonses.
Khan’s supporters took to the streets in Islamabad, Peshawar and Karachi after his call to “come out”.
“The police came to arrest me. They think if Imran Khan goes to jail, people will go to sleep. You have to prove them wrong, you have to prove that the qaum (people) are alive,” he said in a video message last night.
“You have to fight for your rights, you have to take to the streets. God gave everything to Imran Khan. I lead your fight. I have fought all my life and will continue to do so. But if something happens to me, whether they put me in jail or kill me, you have to prove that you can fight even without Imran Khan,” he added.
Khan also alleged that the decision to arrest him was part of the “London plan”. “It’s part of the London plan and an agreement was signed there to put Imran in jail, bring down the PTI and end all charges against Nawaz Sharif,” he said.
After his ousting as prime minister last year, Khan demanded snap polls. The request was rejected by his successor Shehbaz Sharif.
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