Imran Khan leads 1000’s at election rally in Lahore as cops arrive to arrest him

Imran Khan led 1000’s of get together employees at an election rally in Lahore as Islamabad police arrived to arrest him on Monday. Khan was ousted from energy in April after dropping a no-confidence vote in his management.

Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan addresses a press convention. (Photo: Reuters)

By Press Trust of India: Pakistan’s ousted premier Imran Khan Monday led a march of 1000’s of his supporters as Islamabad police arrived right here to arrest him after two non-bailable arrest warrants have been issued towards him, a day after he known as off his get together’s election rally following a ban on public gatherings in Punjab’s provincial capital.

The 70-year-old former cricketer-turned-politician’s supporters threw rose petals at a convoy carrying him to Data Darbar shrine the place he’s anticipated to deal with his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) employees. Numerous girls additionally joined the rally.

کامیاب ریلی کے بعد عمران خان داتا دربار سے واپس زمان پارک روانگی ہزاروں کارکن ریلی کی شکل میں موجود -#ImranKhanRally pic.twitter.com/ThLbnhRGfQ
— PTI (@PTIofficial) March 13, 2023

Khan left his Zaman Park residence as Islamabad police arrived in Lahore on a particular helicopter to arrest the PTI chief after two non-bailable arrest warrants have been issued towards him for failing to seem in courts within the Toshakhana case and for threatening a lady Justice of the Peace whereas addressing a public gathering right here final yr.

READ | Imran Khan 2.0: What precisely is occurring in Pakistan?

Earlier, the Lahore district administration met with the get together’s management to debate the rally, its route and safety preparations.

The district administration, nonetheless, imposed a situation that no chief would give a press release towards the judiciary or another establishment.

As the caretaker authorities had directed the PTI management to finish the rally at 5.30pm, it couldn’t attain its vacation spot (Data Darbar shrine) at 7.45pm. Khan is main the rally whereas sitting in a bomb-proof automobile.

Senior PTI chief Fawad Chaudhry has warned the federal government towards any try and cease the rally. “Watch the scenes of the rally in Lahore at this time and understand that stopping Imran Khan is like inviting people’s wrath,” he stated.

Khan on Sunday known as off his get together’s deliberate election rally in Lahore after Punjab’s caretaker authorities banned public gatherings within the provincial capital.

ALSO READ | Pakistan media regulator bans Imran Khan’s speeches. How he evaded arrest in Toshakhana case

In a televised handle, Khan on Saturday introduced that he’ll lead an election marketing campaign rally in Lahore on Sunday and urged his supporters and employees to take part in face of the police brutality purportedly dedicated towards the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf get together.

Soon after his announcement, the native administration enforced Section 144 within the provincial capital and banned public gatherings, citing issues within the wake of a Pakistan Super League (PSL) cricket match within the metropolis.

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Khan’s get together approached Election Commission places of work and the courts towards the federal government’s transfer, saying the imposition of Section 144 needs to be declared null and void.

Later, in a shock transfer, he postponed the rally, calling on his employees to “not fall into this trap”.

“It seems again Sec 144 has been imposed illegally solely on the PTI election campaign as all other public activities are ongoing in Lahore. Only Zaman Park has been surrounded by containers & heavy police contingent. Clearly, like 8 March, Punjab CM & police want to provoke clashes to file more sham FIRs against PTI ldrshp & workers & to use as a pretext for postponing elections (sic),” Khan tweeted.

He told his supporters “to not fall into this lure”.

“Hence, we’ve postponed the rally until tomorrow,” he tweeted.

However, Punjab’s caretaker Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi said that no ban had been imposed on political activities in the city. “All political events are freely allowed to marketing campaign,” he tweeted.

One activist of Khan’s get together was killed on Wednesday throughout a crackdown on his supporters who gathered exterior his residence in Lahore, defying a authorities ban on rallies within the metropolis.

Meanwhile, the Lahore police booked Khan in one other case associated to the killing of a PTI employee – Ali Bilal alias Zille Shah – in a street accident.

Earlier, the Lahore police had registered an FIR towards Khan and 400 others for the homicide of Shah.

“The new FIR has been registered against Imran Khan, Fawad Chaudhry, Dr Yasmin Rashid and a number of other PTI men for abetment to murder, concealing facts and evidence related to the death of Zille Shah,” a senior police officer told PTI.

He said the police may arrest Khan and others nominated in the FIR after direction from the “high”. The PTI had accused the police of homicide of Shah after inflicting brutal torture on March 8.

This is the 81th FIR towards Khan because the PML-N led federal coalition got here into energy 11 months in the past after toppling his authorities by means of a no-confidence movement.

Khan was ousted from energy in April after dropping a no-confidence vote in his management, which he alleged was a part of a US-led conspiracy concentrating on him due to his impartial overseas coverage choices on Russia, China, and Afghanistan.

Published On:

Mar 13, 2023