‘Delegation’ to seek Imran’s ‘permission’ to search Zaman Park,MIR

The Punjab caretaker government has taken a decision to send Lahore Commissioner to Imran Khan’s residence at Zaman Park tomorrow (May 19).

this was stated by Caretaker Minister for Information Punjab Amir Mir on Thursday night.

Amir Mir said a delegation headed by Lahore Commissioner will go to Zaman Park tomorrow and Imran Khan’s residence will be searched.

The information minister said Lahore Commissioner’s delegation will also be accompanied by the media.

Punjab Information Minister Amir Mir said the law enforcers have arrested eight terrorists trying to escape from Zaman Park.

Punjab interim information minister Amir Mir on Thursday night said the government would send a “delegation” to PTI chief Imran Khan’s residence after Juma prayers that would seek his permission and request him to allow them to search his residence.

Speaking to a private TV, he said Commissioner Lahore 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 was 40, not four,” he added.

If Mr Khan did not permit, he said, the government would deliberate its next plan of action. “Others were also hiding in the houses of Mr Khan’s relatives,” he said.

He went on to say that eight “terrorists” trying to flee Mr Khan’s residence were arrested, adding that the authorities traced their location through geo-fencing. “Police were called off due to rain on Wednesday,” he added.

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, SP Civil Lines Hassan Bhati said police arrested eight “suspects” who had taken refuge in Zaman Park. “They were trying to flee Mr Khan’s residence,” he added.

Talking 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.

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 met.

He said the provincial caretaker setup 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.