Pakistan court bars police operation to arrest ex-PM Khan until Friday, says aide

Islamabad: A Pakistan high court today barred police operation for another day to arrest former Prime Minister Imran Khan, his aide said. Khan’s aide Fawad Chaudhry said the court has extended the bar on police operation until Friday.

An Islamabad court judge said today that he will halt police’s attempts to arrest Imran Khan in the Toshakhana case if the ex-PM surrenders in the court. This comes after over 24 hours of tensions as Khan’s supporters clashed with police officers who had reached his home to arrest him in connection with a non-bailable warrant issued in the Toshakhana corruption case.

Imran Khan has claimed that the “real intent” of the Islamabad police is not to arrest him but “to abduct and assassinate” him. Protests have spread across major cities in Pakistan, including Islamabad, Peshawar, Karachi, and Rawalpindi, after Khan urged his supporters to continue the fight against



the government.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan has been booked under the Anti-Terrorism Act for encouraging party workers to clash with the police in Zaman Park yesterday. 

The FIR filed against the ex-PM says that "grave crimes" were committed by PTI workers at Khan's behest, prompting the police to charge the party chairman and his associates with criminal conspiracy, reported Pakistan-based English daily Express Tribune. 

The FIR also mentions provisions related to unlawful assembly of armed persons, refusal to receive the summons, obstructing justice and harbouring criminals. It further said that 63 police personnel were injured in the fight, including the DIG of Islamabad. PTI workers have also been accused of creating difficulties for citizens, using petrol bombs and damaging state property, says the report.