Imran Khan’s arrest: Zaman Park stand-off between police, PTI workers enters the second day

LAHORE: An intense stand-off between Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) supporters and law enforcers entered its second day on Wednesday as the authorities continue to push for party chairman Imran Khan’s arrest near his Zaman Park residence in Lahore.

This is the second time in recent weeks that police have been sent from Islamabad to Imran Khan’s home in Lahore to serve an arrest warrant after he skipped several court dates citing security concerns.

So far, over 60 people, including policemen and citizens, have been injured in clashes that lasted more than 15 hours between PTI supporters and the police. The clashes continued well into the night while Imran Khan remained holed up at his Zaman Park residence. 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. Some PTI workers were even taken into custody.

Meanwhile, the PTI chair said that it was clear that the “arrest claim” was “mere drama” and that the real intent is to “abduct” and “assassinate” him.

“From tear gas & water cannons, they have now resorted to living 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 tweeted.