Lahore High Court ordered to stop the ongoing police operation in Zaman Park till 10 am tomorrow
The Lahore High Court has issued orders to immediately stop the ongoing police operation in Zaman Park to arrest Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan and directed the police to stay back 500 meters on Mall Canal Bridge, Dharmapura Bridge, and Thandi Road.
This decision has been issued by Justice Tariq Saleem Sheikh of Lahore High Court.
الحمدللّٰہ لاہور ہائیکورٹ نے زمان پارک میں آپریشن معطل کر دیا ، اسلام آباد ہائیکورٹ کے فیصلے کے بعد کل اس کیس پر دوبارہ سماعت ہو گی
— Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) March 15, 2023
We don't want to drop dead bodies in the arrest operation and consider it our weakness then understand: Aamir Mir
The caretaker information minister of Punjab, Aamir Mir, says that the execution of the court order to arrest Imran Khan is not difficult, but the government does not want to drop dead bodies and if it is considered a weakness of the government, understand it.
Speaking to the BBC, he said that 'the main reason is that we do not want to drop dead bodies on our side or on their side. If it's our weakness, that's fine. We are the caretaker government. But they are not obeying any court or any government.'
He said that the police force of Gilgit Baltistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is present in Zaman Park. They pointed their guns at the policemen who reached the gate. Those who became policemen from here had only helmets, shields, and batons. They threatened that if you don't back down, we will open fire. So they had to be ordered to come back.
He said that the problem is that the IG said that if they want to arrest, we will do it. Five, or seven bodies will fall. They will fire and we will have to respond. A dead body is not handled here first.'
The caretaker information minister said that they (Imran Khan's supporters) neither follow the law nor follow the constitution. The team that had come to implement the court decision tore off the head of their DIG and injured his leg and attacked the Rangers' vehicle. The Rangers only symbolically go along with the police. They don't believe it either. Rangers mean army. Now the situation is like this.'
He said that Imran Khan is now acting like the Taliban. He who was accused of being Taliban Khan is proving it. '
Amir Mir also said that 'we have suspended this operation because of the PSL semi-final and final.' He said that this action should be taken again after the PLL final on March 19. He said that the reason for this decision is that Lahore has completely stagnated. If there is no normal life, how will people reach the stadium?
What happened in Zaman Park today and what is the situation now?عمران خان کارکنان سے ملنے باہر آگئے pic.twitter.com/TfFf1dJIa4
— Geo News Urdu (@geonews_urdu) March 15, 2023
There is a large number of lawyers outside Zaman Park who started arriving here in the form of a rally this morning. Earlier this morning, fresh troops of Punjab Police and Rangers personnel arrived at Zaman Park, upon their arrival, they were pelted with stones by the protesters, in response to which the police pelted the PTI workers severely and dispersed the protesters. A water cannon was used for this.
However, around two o'clock in the afternoon, police and Rangers personnel suddenly started leaving Zaman Park. Since the beginning of this operation, it has been observed that law enforcement agencies suddenly intensify the operation and then they withdraw for a short time, and the same situation continues today. During the withdrawal of the police and rangers and a break in the tear gas shelling, Imran Khan came to the premises of his residence wearing a gas mask and had a brief conversation with the workers here.
There is also a good number of PTI women workers in Zaman Park. The roads here are strewn with stones which were thrown at the police by PTI workers from inside Zaman Park. While a motorcycle, a pick-up vehicle, and a water tanker are also present here in a burnt condition.
It has been more than 24 hours since the operation started to arrest Imran Khan, but the authorities have not been able to make the arrest of Chairman PTI possible. Talking to the BBC, the workers present here said that they will stand firm here and will not allow the police to reach Imran Khan's residence under any circumstances.
During this operation, several shells fell inside the residence of Imran Khan, while the residents of this area told BBC that due to the ongoing shelling since yesterday, it has become impossible for them to stay in this area.
Damage to private property in Zaman Park riots
A few vehicles have also been set on fire in the Zaman Park area during the ongoing riots for the past day. The police claim that all this has been done on behalf of the protesters.
After the police retreated, PTI workers again gathered outside Zaman Park
After the police and Rangers retreated from Zaman Park, a large number of Tehreek-e-Insaaf workers once again started gathering outside Imran Khan's residence.
A significant number of lawyers are also included among them.
Decision reserved on Imran Khan's request to cancel the arrest warrant
Attack on police is an attack on the state, CJ remarks
After the hearing in the Islamabad High Court on the request to cancel the arrest warrant of Imran Khan, the court has reserved the decision.
Chief Justice Amir Farooq said that he will find a solution that avoids conflict and maintains the respect of the courts.
During the hearing, Khawaja Haris told the court that he personally assures the court that Imran Khan will appear in the session judge's court on March 18. On this, the Chief Justice remarked that the honor and dignity of the courts are very important and it should not be that the law is not equal for all. It is important for all of us that the law should be the same for all.
On this occasion, Khawaja Haris said that he had asked the trial court to hear him on some matters first, but rejecting his request, the court said that it would issue an arrest warrant.
The Chief Justice said that the re-issuance of the warrant is not an issue because the court had said that Imran Khan should appear on March 13, otherwise the warrant would be restored. He said that whatever the case may be, the accused must appear in court.
"In case a summons is issued in any criminal case, is it not necessary to appear in court?" The Chief Justice further remarked that "if an order is made, it remains until it is revoked, it must be executed."
The Chief Justice said that whether it is the Magistrate's Court or the Supreme Court, the decisions should be followed. "Our orders are issued with a signature. We don't have musclemen to go and show strength."
The Chief Justice said that the order of remand always goes to the Sessions Court because the Magistrate is in charge. In this case, there is no need to be remanded, only to be arrested and presented.
Khawaja Haris said that where will the government arrested Imran Khan four days before his appearance? The court then called the Advocate General Islamabad to the rostrum and he said that if Imran Khan does not come even on March 18, then there will be no charge framed against Khawaja Sahib.
During the hearing, Additional Attorney General Munawwar Iqbal Dogal told the court that relief should be given to the petitioner and his conduct is before the court. He said that a similar assurance had been given earlier, at that time also the High Court came and suspended the warrant, but Imran Khan did not appear again.
Khawaja Haris said that what is happening in Lahore is unfortunate. The Chief Justice said what is happening in Lahore, what face are we showing, we used to hear that it happens in tribal areas. How do we express to the world that we will not follow the law?
The Chief Justice asked Khawaja Haris if what is happening in Lahore is going well, to which he said that what is happening is going wrong.
The Chief Justice said that the workers of a political party are attacking the police and it is an attack on the state because the policemen are there doing their duty on behalf of the state.
Justice Amir Farooq said that the attackers are also our children, to which Khawaja Haris said that the policemen who have come there are also among the victims.
The Chief Justice said that can anyone in Britain touch the uniform of a policeman? On this, the Additional Attorney General said that if the previous undertaking of Imran Khan had been implemented, all this would not have happened today.
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