'Deadlock' between Imran, Punjab govt on search operation persists
Pakistan
Says govt not considering option to use force
LAHORE (Web Desk) – Punjab interim information minister Amir Mir said on Friday a deadlock prevailed between the provincial government and former PM Imran Khan over discussing the modalities of the search operation to find “up to 40 terrorists" allegedly hiding inside the latter's Zaman Park residence.
Speaking to a private TV, he said the Punjab government team that visited Mr Khan's residence showed him the list of “wanted terrorists” and the nature of their crimes, adding that the PTI chief agreed that these people belonged to the PTI. “Mr Khan said he was in contact with them earlier but now they have gone underground,” he added.
“Former premier said he could neither produce them nor could he compel them to surrender,” he added.
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As for the conditions set by the PTI, he said Mr Khan told Punjab government that he had invited media to search his residence on Thursday, adding that Punjab administration team found his claims “false” after contacting the media persons. “Media persons were made to stay from 12pm to 9pm at his house's lawn to probably save Mr Khan from arrest,” he added.
Mr Khan did not let any journalist inside his residence, he claimed.
He said former premier maintained that he could not allow such a huge contingent of police to conduct the operation. “We are trying to keep this process as peaceful as much we can,” he added.
Some people who tried to flee the Zaman Park in guises were detained a day ago, he claimed. “We detected them through geo-fencing and they gave us further information during investigation,” he added.
As for Mr Khan’s involvement in ordering the attacks on military installations, he said PTI senior leaders detained under 3 MPO named Mr Khan for orchestrating these acts. “Targets were set days before Mr Khan was taken into custody,” he added.
He said the government was not considering any option to use force to conduct search operation, he said.
Punjab CM orders end to blockade in Zaman Park, but on one condition
Punjab interim chief minister Mohsin Naqvi on Friday ordered the Lahore district administration to end the blockade around PTI chief Imran Khan’s residence after removing the encroachments inside Zaman Park.
Chairing a meeting to discuss law and order situation, he said the administration should restore Zaman Park to its original shape. “Citizens have already faced a lot of troubles,” he added.
Punjab government team that, earlier, went to Mr Khan’s residence to discuss modalities of the search operation to capture “up to 40 terrorists hiding” in there also presented him the report.
Punjab govt team visits Zaman Park
Commissioner Lahore, who was heading the team, said the team presented a draft eliciting eight SOPs including the record of residence's CCTV footage, geo-fencing, and conduct the operation on female compound by lady police officers. "The government will hold a meeting to discuss the law and order situation later," sources said.
— PTI (@PTIofficial) May 19, 2023
Earlier, reports said that the PTI's legal team allowed the three-member “delegation” headed by Commissioner Lahore to enter Mr Khan's residence. "Police have taken control of the security of Mr Khan's residence," reports added.
PTI's Twitter team posted a video showing the government's team heading to Mr Khan's residence in the presence of media team.
— PTI (@PTIofficial) May 19, 2023
Meanwhile, Punjab government said the team had gone to discuss the terms of reference (TORs) only adding that they would not conduct the search operation. "The delegation will discuss TORs to conduct the search operation", Punjab interim information Amir Mir said.
Media team that was invited to the residence was not allowed to enter, he claimed.
— Minister Information Punjab (@MinisterInfoPb) May 19, 2023
Hours earlier, the Punjab police claimed to have obtained court warrants to carry out a search at former prime minister Imran Khan's Zaman Park residence.
A day after the caretaker provincial information minister claimed eight arrests of 'terrorists' on Thursday, the capital city police chief said on Friday that six more suspects who were attempting to flee PTI Chairman Imran Khan’s Zaman Park residence had been arrested.
Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Bilal Siddique Kamyana said four of the alleged “terrorists” were involved in the attack on Askari Tower while two others were among those who ransacked the Corps Commander House in Lahore.
The latest arrests come a day after Punjab caretaker Information Minister Amir Mir claimed that eight suspects had been arrested while they were escaping Lahore’s Zaman Park area. According to Mr Mir, the detained terrorists were already identified and involved in the attack on Jinnah House on May 9.
Govt's decides to send "delegation" to Zaman Park
On Thursday, Minister Amir Mir had said the government would send a "delegation" to PTI chief Imran Khan’s residence after Friday prayers that would seek his permission and request him to allow them to search his residence.
Speaking to a private TV channel, he said the Lahore commissioner would head the delegation comprising police officers, adding that they would conduct operation in the presence of cameras. “At least 400 police personnel will accompany the commissioner as the number of terrorists is 40, not four,” he added.
If Mr Khan did not permit, he said, the government would deliberate its next plan of action. “Others are also hiding in the houses of Mr Khan’s relatives,” he said.
He went on to say that eight “terrorists” who tried to flee Mr Khan’s residence were arrested, adding that the authorities traced their location through geo-fencing.
— Government of Punjab (@GovtofPunjabPK) May 18, 2023
As for Mr Khan’s arrest, he said the Punjab government had no plans to arrest him, adding that if police did not go to Zaman Park, some other force would.
Earlier, Civil Lines SP Hassan Bhatti said police arrested eight "suspects" who had taken refuge in Zaman Park. “They were trying to flee Mr Khan’s residence,” he added.
Speaking to the media, he said there were still other people hiding around Mr Khan's residence at Zaman Park. “Police will investigate them and share more details later,” he added.
Govt's earlier stance
Earlier, according to Amir Mir, police were ready to use firearms if attacked. He told a news conference on Thursday that at least 3,400 suspects linked to the clashes had been arrested and that more raids were planned. On Wednesday night, Mr Mir said the government had no intention to arrest PTI chief Imran Khan until the 24-hour deadline was over.
He said the provincial caretaker set-up would reveal its plans after the expiry of the deadline. “The deadline will expire at 2pm tomorrow (Thursday),” he added.
Earlier, the caretaker Punjab government gave a 24-hour deadline to the PTI to hand over "30 to 40 terrorists" who, it claimed, were hiding at Imran Khan's Zaman Park residence in Lahore to police.
The warning came from caretaker Information Minister Aamir Mir who addressed a presser in the provincial capital. The minister said the PTI had started behaving like a non-state actor as its chief had been targeting the military for more than one year.
He claimed that attacks on military installations and at other places were carried out during May 9 violent protests under a plan, saying the government had adopted a “zero tolerance policy" towards it.
Mr Mir told reporters that interim Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi had given a “free hand” to the Punjab police to deal with “arsonists”.
The interim minister said it had been decided that those who attacked military installations would be tried in military courts. He said no innocent person would be penalised as all cases were being forwarded after confirmation. He said the "PTI miscreants" crossed the red line on May 9. He said more than 3,400 attackers had been arrested and 254 cases registered.
