LAHORE: In what appears to be sharp contrast of Lahore High Court (LHC) instructions, Punjab Police on Saturday launched operation at Zaman Park residence of PTI Chairman Imran Khan and started arresting party workers.
Worst kind of torture in Zaman Park right now. If something happens, will you paint it as accident again!? #چلو_چلو_عمران_کے_ساتھ pic.twitter.com/5S45UDVvMZ
— PTI (@PTIofficial) March 18, 2023
Heavy contingent of Police broke into the residence of PTI Chairman Imran Khan by damaging his main gate using a crane.
پنجاب پولیس زمان پارک میں عمران خان کے گھر میں داخل #TheVerified pic.twitter.com/jhIAmUDFP6
— The Verifíed (@TheVerifLive) March 18, 2023
Videos posted by local journos from Lahore purported to show that Punjab Police resorted to brutal baton-charge, injured and arrested several PTI workers from inside the Zaman Park residence of Imran Khan. Reports suggest more than a dozen PTI workers were arrested from the spot.
پولیس نے عمران خان کی رہائش گاہ میں موجود کارکنوں کی پکڑ دھکڑ شروع کردی pic.twitter.com/YNleosFH90
— Muhammad Bilal (@Bilal81) March 18, 2023
Heavy contingent of police accompanied by anti-encroachment team and anti-riot force started moving towards Zaman Park minutes after PTI Chairman Imran Khan left for Islamabad to appear in court in connection with Toshakhana case.
زمان پارک سے گرفتاریاں اور سرچ آپریشن شروع pic.twitter.com/owYsZkOMDe
— Muhammad Umair (@MohUmair87) March 18, 2023
When approached with multiple queries, a Lahore Police spokesperson said they had search warrants issued form an Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) with directions to accompany a Lady police inspector.
عمران خان کے گھر، زمان پارک لاھور کے لیے سرچ وارنٹ۔۔۔!!!
لیڈی پولیس ہمراہ ۔۔۔ pic.twitter.com/Sf6Qn32VEK— Gharidah Farooqi (T.I.) (@GFarooqi) March 18, 2023
Within minutes, PEMRA too imposed restrictions, banning live coverage of events taking place at Zaman Park.
بریکنگ
پیمرا نے لاہور زمان پارک پولیس آپریشن کی کوریج پر پابندی لگا دی pic.twitter.com/ZMEIuQAaU3— MM News (@mmnewsdottv) March 18, 2023
Reacting on Police operation at Zaman Park, PTI leader Hammad Azhar said “the sole purpose of this operation is to portray as if arms and ammo recovered from it,” adding that 60 years on, “the script” hasn’t changed as yet.
ذرائع کے مطابق زمان پارک میں آپریشن کا مقصد اصلحہ وغیرہ جعلی طور پر برامد کرنا ہے۔ 60 سال گزر گئے لیکن سکرپٹ تبدیل نہ ہو سکا۔
— Hammad Azhar (@Hammad_Azhar) March 18, 2023
Khan’s former Chief of Staff Shahbaz Gill too took to Twitter and expressed apprehension that in the evening, news would be aired that “maps and arms recovered from Zaman Park,” a reference to Karachi Operation in which security forces claimed recovering arms, ammo and map of Jinnahpur from MQM’s Headquarters Nine Zero.
اب قومی امکان ہے کہ شام کی خبروں میں بتایا جائے زمان پارک سے ہیروئن اسلحہ بارود غیر ملکی نقشے سازشی دستاویزات برآمد ہوئی ہیں۔ ہر حد تک جایا جائے گا۔ قانون اور انصاف کو سرکس بنا دیا گیا ہے۔
— Dr. Shahbaz GiLL (@SHABAZGIL) March 18, 2023
