Over 60 PTI workers arrested

Over 60 PTI workers arrested as police complete operation in Zaman Park

Ammunition, petrol bombs recovered from Imran’s residence: IG Anwar

LAHORE: The police in Lahore ended their operation in Zaman Park after arresting more than 60 Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) workers and “recovering assault rifles and a cache of bullets”.

The police barged into Khan’s residence after the party chair left from his residence for Islamabad to appear before a court in the Toshakhana case against him.

The police and PTI supporters recently fought pitched battles outside the former prime minister’s home in Lahore, wounding several on both sides when the former tried to arrest Khan.

However, a police operation was launched at Imran Khan’s residence on Saturday morning to clear the area of ‘security camps’ established by the party.

Television footage showed police entering the Khan’s eight-canal house after using an excavator to bring down the main iron gate of the house. A number of PTI workers were also taken into custody.

Meanwhile, Punjab Inspector General (IG) DrUsman Anwar on Saturday said that “ammunition” — including petrol bombs — was recovered from outside PTI Chairman Imran Khan’s Zaman Park residence in Lahore, which was raided earlier on Saturday.

Addressing a press conference in Lahore following the raid, IG Anwar put on display the alleged petrol bombs and said, “These petrol bombs were recovered from there (Zaman Park), and there is also ammunition other than this.”

The police chief said bunkers and sacks of sand were also found, which he said were creating the impression of it being a no-go area.

He claimed that the spot near Imran’s house where the “petrol bombs were made” was also identified by the police.

A day ago, the Lahore High Court (LHC) had allowed IG Anwar’s request to search Imran’s Zaman Park residence for an investigation into attacks on police teams when they went there to execute warrants issued by an Islamabad court for Imran’s arrest in the Toshakhana case.

 

During the press conference on Saturday, IG Anwar explained how the petrol bombs recovered were “used by the PTI workers against the police”.

The senior police official justified the search operation, saying the LHC had clarified that the investigation “could not be stopped or stalled in any way”.

He lauded the police personnel for clearing the “no-go area” around Imran’s residence “even after the police was pelted with stones”.

IG Anwar further said the LHC had suggested the use of latest technologies to trace “those who spread anarchy”.

Following the directives, the police made a list of the people with the “help of pictures, HD cameras, videos, geo-tagging, geo-fencing, reports from the special branchof police and other intelligence agencies”, he added.

Regarding the search of Imran’s house, the IG said the police had spoken to the senior PTI leadership but were informed that Imran was not present at his Zaman Park residence.

IG Anwar said the police arrested people who were involved in “firing slingshots and pelting stones” on the police and cases under Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act were registered against them.

 

“We did not fire a single shot as neither did we have a rubber bullet nor a live one,” he added.

He said there was video proof that only the suspects were arrested. “There is not even a question of any action taken against any unrelated person.” Monitoring Desk