ISLAMABAD: Chaos erupted at the Islamabad Judicial Complex when Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan arrived at the scene to appear in court.
PTI activists clashed with police and damaged public property, prompting law enforcement to briefly detain Khan’s chief of staff, Shibli Faraz.
The PTI chief reached the Islamabad Judicial Complex a few moments ago where he was supposed to appear in the court in the Tosha Khana case, but he went back due to the tense situation.
The former prime minister’s convoy faced several hurdles on its way from Lahore to Islamabad – from overturning of vehicles to clashes between police and party workers at several places.
Following the PTI’s insistence that Khan’s life was in danger and he needed security, Islamabad Chief Commissioner Nurul Amin Mengal moved the hearing from F-8 Court Complex to G-11 Judicial Complex as a “temporary arrangement”. transferred as
Ahead of Khan’s arrival at Islamabad’s judicial complex, the area was cordoned off to ensure law and order and avoid any untoward incident – as happened last month.
But a similar situation occurred last time when PTI activists started pelting stones at officials inside the premises of the Islamabad Judicial Complex, which resulted in tear gas being released in the courtroom where Khan was scheduled to appear.
For the second time in a row, PTI workers broke the security cordon of the complex and forcibly entered the premises of the complex along with their party chief. Police sources also said that activists were firing tear gas at the law enforcement officials.
JEE News correspondents present at the spot said that PTI activists also damaged three police mobiles and fired bullets at the law enforcement personnel, forcing the police to fire tear gas.
— Islamabad Police (@ICT_Police) March 18, 2023
As police and activists clashed, law enforcers also beat party leaders Shibli Faraz, Farrukh Habib and Murad Saeed with sticks. Faraz was also hit on the head.
Hearing
When Judge Iqbal reached the courtroom, Khan’s lawyer Gohar Ali told him that the PTI chief had reached the judicial complex, but he was facing obstacles in coming to the courtroom.
“No problem, let them come if they want to. God bless Imran Khan, he is unable to reach [here],” the judge said, as he noted that he was waiting for the PTI chief to appear. Will wait.
The lawyer also told the judge that it was not Khan’s fault that the activists came with him.
After that, Judge Iqbal said that the Election Commission lawyers should take notice of what is happening inside the premises of the complex. He said that the hearing will begin after Khan arrives and leaves for his chamber.
When they returned to the courtroom, Babar Awan asked the judge to escort Khan in his car as the situation outside was tense.
The learned judge said that if the attendance was applied in the same manner, what will happen during the hearing? As PTI pressed for it, the judge allowed Khan’s presence to be marked in his car.
Arrest ‘clear’
While Khan was on his way to the capital, the Punjab police resumed operations at the PTI chief’s residence, raided his house, and arrested several party workers.
In response, the former prime minister said it was “clear” that despite getting “bail” in the cases registered against him, the Pakistan Democratic Movement-led government was intent on arresting him.
“Despite knowing their nefarious intentions, I am heading to Islamabad and the court because I believe in the rule of law. But the ulterior motive of this trick of the scoundrels will become clear to all.”
It is also obvious now that the entire siege of Lahore was not about ensuring I appear before the court in a case but was intended to take me away to prison so that I am unable to lead our election campaign.
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) March 18, 2023
“It is also obvious now that the entire siege of Lahore was not about ensuring I appear before the court in a case but was intended to take me away to prison so that I am unable to lead our election campaign,” he added.
In another tweet, he added: “Meanwhile Punjab police have led an assault on my house in Zaman Park where Bushra Begum is alone. Under what law are they doing this?”
