Imran Khan: Authorities searching Zaman Park for “wanted people,” not terrorists
LAHORE: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan refuted claims made by the authorities and clarified that they were not searching for terrorists but only individuals who were “wanted” at his residence in Lahore’s Zaman Park. After a government delegation visited his house to discuss the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for a search operation, Khan addressed journalists and expressed his views.
Punjab Caretaker Information Minister Amir Mir stated that law enforcement agencies intended to search Khan’s residence based on geofencing data, which indicated the presence of “30-40 terrorists” involved in attacks on military installations. However, the meetings between the delegation, headed by the Lahore commissioner, and Khan, along with his legal team, reached a deadlock as Khan refused to grant permission for the search.
Khan argued that if the authorities were looking for wanted individuals, they already had apprehended 7,500 of PTI’s “wanted” workers. He claimed that anyone associated with his party was currently considered a “wanted person.” Khan invited the authorities to search his house, asserting that there were no wanted individuals present.
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When it came to granting permission, Khan specified that he would only allow four police personnel to search his house, despite the delegation presenting a list of 2,200 people. He also emphasized that if the authorities wanted to search for terrorists, they should adhere to the Lahore High Court’s previous order, which stated that three individuals—a government representative, a person from PTI, and a female officer—should conduct the search.
Khan expressed concerns about the possibility of the police planting individuals or evidence at his house, as he feared they had done so in the past. He underscored the need for transparency and adherence to the court’s directives.
Regarding the violent protests that followed his arrest on May 9 in the Al-Qadir Trust case, Khan reiterated that his party had repeatedly condemned the incidents. He denied any responsibility for the attacks on military installations, including the General Headquarters in Rawalpindi. The protests resulted in significant damage to public property and caused the death of at least eight people, eliciting strong condemnations from the government and the army.
The military decided to try the protesters under the Pakistan Army Act and Official Secrets Act, with the National Security Committee endorsing the decision. However, Khan maintained that his party had no involvement in the violence and offered assistance in apprehending any PTI workers if evidence was provided to substantiate their participation.
Khan criticized the authorities, claiming they were using the crackdown as a means to eradicate his party. Despite the challenges, he affirmed his determination to continue his political endeavors until the end.
