Islamabad, Mar 15 (FN Bureau) Protests broke out in major cities of Pakistan on Tuesday night at the call of former Prime Minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan in the wake of his possible arrest. PTI workers and supporters took to the streets in various cities across the country and also clashed outside Imran Khan’s Zaman Park residence in Lahore. Intermittent tear gas shelling was continuing at Zaman Park with police camping at a security barrier outside the neighbourhood. PTI workers have laid siege to the road leading to Imran Khan’s residence. Protests were reported from Islamabad, Peshawar, Karachi and Rawalpindi after Imran called on his supporters to “come out” following the police’s use of tear gas and water cannons on party supporters outside Zaman Park. Even as the police and Rangers were stationed outside his Zaman Park residence for compliance with a non-bailable arrest warrant, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chief Imran Khan issued a video message, asking the nation and his party workers to take to the streets if he is arrested. He said the nation will continue its fight against the government of “thieves and thugs”. Imran urged people to take to the streets to protest against his possible arrest.
He said people should not accept in any way how “one person” is making decisions for the whole country. After his speech, protesters blocked roads, suspended traffic, burnt tyres and raised slogans against the government. Clashes were also reported in several areas. The protests came as Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah said Imran Khan will be arrested today at all costs, and later presented in court. He called Imran Khan a “fitna” (troublemaker), who he claims wants to spread chaos in the country. The PML-N leader said the government will knock Imran Khan down for good.The minister was addressing a Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz rally in Sheikhupura. He said the party will eliminate Imran Khan with the power of vote.PML-N chief organizer Maryam Nawaz criticized the PTI chairman, and said Imran Khan was in hiding in fear of being arrested. The PML-N senior vice president said her father Nawaz Sharif came down from London and turned himself in voluntarily to the police. Addressing the rally after the interior minister, Maryam said the one who is afraid of difficulties and tough times is called a ‘jackal’, not a leader. She asked Imran to provide evidence in the ongoing cases against him, and not hide behind his party workers.
Earlier in the evening, PTI Chairman Imran Khan on Tuesday challenged his non-bailable arrest warrants in the Toshakhana case, in the Islamabad High Court. However, the court refused to hear the plea today, and fixed it for hearing tomorrow. The application was filed with the high court, as heavy contingents of police, Rangers and anti-riot force reached outside Imran’s Zaman Park residence to comply with an arrest warrant issued by an Islamabad sessions court. The PTI chief’s legal team reached the court to file an application for suspension of the warrant. His lawyer Intizar Hussain Panjotha prepared a petition. The court registrar objected to the absence of Imran Khan’s biometric verification on the bail application. The lawyers had sought hearing of the plea today. The court accepted the application, but refused to hear it today and fixed it for tomorrow, along with the objections to it. Talking to media, Hussain Panjotha said Imran Khan is a former prime minister, but it seemed a terrorist has been besieged. He warned that they will call a strike in the entire country, and if anyone thought the party and its activists will remain silent, they were misunderstood.