Lahore (Web Desk): The clashes between police and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) supporters continued on Wednesday as the party workers blocked the arrest of their chief Imran Khan from his Zaman Park residence in Lahore.
Islamabad police and anti-riot force were locked in a day-long standoff with PTI activists after continued violent clashes near Zaman Park as officers move forward in a desperate attempt to arrest the former premier.
On Tuesday, a contingent of the Islamabad police, along with armoured vehicles, reached in the city to arrest former premier Imran Khan after an Islamabad court on Monday issued non-bailable arrest warrants for him in Toshakhana case.
DIG Operations Islamabad Shahzad Bukhari is leading the police party that has surrounded Imran Khan’s residence.
A per the reports, PTI supporters pelted stones at police officials as they began baton-charging the crowds, turning Zaman Park into a battleground.
As the capital force and Punjab police had to pull back, Rangers personnel entered into the scene to avert the extreme situation.
PTI supporters clashed repeatedly with police overnight while Khan remained holed up in his Zaman Park residence, defying attempts to arrest him. Meanwhile, the law enforcers had also arrested the PTI workers.
In a series of tweets, PTI chief Imran Khan wrote that the main intent behind law enforcers' action was to abduct and assassinate him.
"I signed a surety bond last evening, but the DIG refused to even entertain it. There is no doubt of their mala fide intent".
The PTI chief stated that there were "Rangers taking over" and in "direct confrontation with the people".
He asked the establishment "who claimed to be neutral" if this was their idea of "neutrality".
"Rangers directly confronting unarmed protestors and leadership of the largest political party when their leader is facing an illegal warrant and case already in court and when [a] government of crooks [is] trying to abduct and possibly murder him?"
“My question to the Establishment, to those who claim they are ‘neutral’: Is this your idea of neutrality, Rangers directly confronting unarmed protestors and leadership of the largest political party when their leader is facing an illegal warrant and case already in court and when govt of crooks trying to abduct and possibly murder him?”
Earlier, in an address to the nation via video link, Imran said that the “hope lies with the courts and establishment” in ending this “farce” as law enforcement agencies made another push to enter the former prime minister’s Zaman Park residence in Lahore.
The standoff started a day earlier when a contingent of Islamabad police, led by DIG (Operations) Islamabad Shahzad Bukhari attempted to execute the non-bailable arrest warrants in the Toshakhana case.
The situation escalated after the police almost reached the gates of the PTI chief’s residence from where it was forced to retreat towards Mall Road.
The police action at Zaman Park sparked protests, which stretched from city to city, in an outpouring of anger that saw buildings set on fire and an aggressive response from the authorities, with at least five policemen, including DIG Operations Islamabad Shahzad Bukhari, and dozens of workers injured.
The former premier has called on his supporters to continue the struggle for the rule of law, and ensure that they continue the efforts no matter what, and come out on the streets. Khan said If he got detained or killed, "the fight for Haqeeqi Azadi must continue."