Wed 15 March 2023:
The PTI alleged on Wednesday that party chief Imran Khan’s Zaman Park residence in Lahore was “under extreme attack” as it posted footage of armed law enforcement personnel opening fire.
In a tweet from its official account posted at 11:48am today, PTI shared a video alleging “open firing by Rangers and Police”, without specifying when the video was filmed.
View this post on Instagram
Open firing by Rangers and Police. Zaman Park is under extreme attack!! Everyone must reach asap!! #زمان_پارک_پُہنچو pic.twitter.com/T18KWz6sI3
— PTI (@PTIofficial) March 15, 2023
Hundreds of PTI supporters have ringed Imran Khan’s residence in Lahore, holding off at least one fresh attempt by the police to storm the premises.
Video circulating on social media – many distributed by official PTI accounts – showed several bloodied supporters and others struggling to cope with tear gas.
A PTI official tweeted that there was “an urgent need” for first aid kits at the Zaman Park neighbourhood.
A party account also showed video of teargas canisters landing inside Khan’s garden, but police did not appear to breach the gate or the wall.
Fawad Chaudhry, a senior PTI leader, claimed many of Khan’s supporters have been injured so far.
My house has been under heavy attack since yesterday afternoon. Latest attack by Rangers, pitting the largest pol party against the army. This is what PDM and the enemies of Pakistan want. No lessons learnt from the East Pakistan tragedy. pic.twitter.com/SBcrCcYEo5
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) March 15, 2023
PTI files plea in Lahore court over siege at Khan’s residence
Senior PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry says his party has filed a petition in the Lahore High Court seeking to stop the ongoing police operation at Imran Khan’s residence in the city’s Zaman Park area.
Speaking to reporters outside the court, Chaudhry demanded the siege at Khan’s house should be ended immediately. He appealed to the court to summon the Lahore police chief and instruct him to stop the operation.
Pro-Khan protests erupt in Pakistan as police arrive to arrest Ex-PM #imrankhanPTI #ImranKhan #Pakistan pic.twitter.com/oYmpOLfj8r
— INDEPENDENT PRESS (@IpIndependent) March 14, 2023
Roads cordoned off, internet connectivity restricted
Roads near Zaman Park have been cordoned off using shipping containers, while mobile and internet connectivity is severely restricted, according to reports coming out of Lahore.
Police and paramilitary rangers are still using a heavy hand against PTI supporters. TV footage showed law enforcement officials clad in riot gear and carrying batons firing shells.
PTI workers were seen gathering stones to counter police.
Party workers were also sharing water bottles with each other in order to protect themselves from tear gas.
A reporter, on condition of anonymity, told Al Jazeera that the number of security officers deployed on Wednesday was much bigger than yesterday.
Islamabad High Court to hear plea challenging Khan’s arrest warrant
Imran Khan’s lawyer Khawaja Haris and his team have petitioned the Islamabad High Court for the suspension of the arrest warrant for the former premier.
The court was expected to issue a ruling about the suspension later on Wednesday.
PTI officials said they were also filing a similar petition with a Lahore court.
Khan, 70, has been summoned to court to answer accusations he did not declare gifts received during his time as prime minister, or the profit made from selling them.
View this post on Instagram
‘Things have intensified from yesterday’: PTI member
Television images show smoke billowing outside Imran Khan’s Zaman Park residence in Lahore as his supporters run to take cover from the tear gas shells.
Dozens of riot police officers carrying shields and batons have been deployed on the street opposite the residence.
PTI member Sibghatullah Virk said, they are facing fresh attacks by the security forces. “Things have intensified from yesterday,” he said.
Virk added that there was no electricity in the area last night while mobile and internet connectivity remain sporadic.
‘Arrest claim mere drama, real intent to abduct and assassinate’
In a tweet on Wednesday, Imran Khan said the police’s attempt to arrest him is “mere drama” and their real intent is to “abduct and assassinate”.
“Clearly ‘arrest’ claim was mere drama because real intent is to abduct & assassinate. From tear gas & water cannons, they have now resorted to live firing. I signed a surety bond last evening, but the DIG refused to even entertain it. There is no doubt of their mala fide intent,” he posted on Twitter.
Clearly "arrest" claim was mere drama because real intent is to abduct & assassinate. From tear gas & water cannons, they have now resorted to live firing. I signed a surety bond last evening, but the DIG refused to even entertain it. There is no doubt of their mala fide intent. pic.twitter.com/5LZtZE8Ies
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) March 15, 2023
Ready to give surety bond to appear in court: Imran Khan
Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan is willing to give a surety bond that he will appear in court on Saturday, he said in a video address as clashes continued between his supporters and law enforcers.
A lower trial court in capital Islamabad had issued a arrest warrant for Khan for not appearing before it despite several summons. Khan is accused of unlawfully selling state gifts while in power from 2018 to 2022, but he denies wrongdoing.
In the address early on Wednesday, Khan said there were security concerns at the court he was supposed to appear before in Islamabad as there had been two militant attacks there previously.
SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
FOLLOW INDEPENDENT PRESS:
TWITTER (CLICK HERE)
https://twitter.com/IpIndependent
FACEBOOK (CLICK HERE)
https://web.facebook.com/ipindependent
Think your friends would be interested? Share this story!
