Imran faces arrest again as more PTI leaders quit party
Caretaker Punjab govt presents ‘evidence’ of PTI involvement in terrorism to the CEC in a bid to declare it a banned organisation
Police kept up their siege around the home of Pakistan Tehreek-einsaf (PTI) Imran Khan as a 24-hour deadline given to the former premier to hand over suspects allegedly sheltered inside expired on Thursday.
The siege and the authorities’ demand for the suspects, wanted in violent protests over Imran’s recent detention, have angered the former prime minister’s many followers and raised fears of renewed clashes between them and security forces.
Last week, Imran’s supporters atacked public property and military installations ater he was dragged out of a courtroom and arrested in a grat case.
Angered over the recent atacks on military installations, two lawmakers and some senior politicians have quit Imran’s party, saying they cannot support the man who incited people to violence.
PTI additional secretary and former adviser to prime minister Malik Amin Aslam announced he was quiting his party ater 13 years of affiliation.
He was one of the close associates of Imran Khan during the last regime of his party.
On Thursday, Amin addressed a press conference in Islamabad and announced his disassociation from the party due to atacks on military buildings on May 9.
He said unplanned atacks on sensitive military installations are not possible. He criticised the party leadership for not holding an intra-party investigation into the May 9 tragedy in the last 10 days which was a big failure on their part.
Meanwhile, the caretaker Punjab government has presented evidence of PTI involvement in terrorism to the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikander Sultan Raja in a bid to declare it a banned organisation.
According to details, the CEC arrived at the Chief Minister House in Lahore to meet Caretaker Punjab Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Thursday.
A high-level briefing session was held under their chairmanship. The meeting strongly condemned the terrorist incidents of May 9 and expressed complete solidarity with the Pakistan Army.
During the meeting, the CEC and members were presented with solid evidence of the involvement in the May 9 “terrorist” incidents by a political party, including briefings, images, videos, and messaging proofs.
Speaking on the occasion, Naqvi said that on May 9, a political party disgraced the entire nation and carried out planned atacks on military installations.
He said that evidence of contacts between atackers and party leadership present in Lahore’s Zaman Park came to light through geo-fencing.
“A dirty game was played in the guise of politics, and the initial estimate suggests a loss of Rs600 million to the national exchequer,” he added.
Sultan Raja said that under the leadership of Naqvi, the Punjab government has taken the best and courageous steps to protect the people in the current situation.
“I am confident that the Punjab government’s team is fulfiling its responsibilities with integrity. The purpose of the ECP is to conduct free, fair, and peaceful general elections. We have no affiliation with any political party and no political agenda,” he added.
At least 10 people were killed in clashes with police across the country in the days that followed.
The violence subsided only when the Supreme Court ordered Imran’s release.
The popular opposition leader was freed from custody over the weekend and returned to his home in an upscale district of Lahore, Pakistan’s second largest city and the capital of the Punjab region.
Dozens of his supporters have been staying there with him, along with private guards. Police surrounded the residence on Wednesday, saying they want 40 suspects handed over.
The ultimatum for Imran ended at 2pm local time, but there were no immediate signs of unusual movement by police. Imran’s party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-insaf, invited reporters to the house to witness any police raid.
Hours ater the expiry of the ultimatum, Hassan Javed, a senior police official, told reporters that officers were waiting for a signal from the government to launch the raid. He said police captured at least eight suspects ater they let Imran’s house and tried to escape via a nearby canal.