Islamabad: Over the weekend, there was a lot of activity in Pakistan as an arrest warrant was issued for Imran Khan, the leader of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf. Despite being removed from his position as Prime Minister a year ago, Khan managed to avoid being arrested in the Toshakhana corruption case.
Meanwhile, his followers gathered outside his home in Lahore and were urged by PTI leaders to avoid violence and uphold the law.
The party in power has criticized Imran Khan for avoiding arrest, with Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb calling him a “proven jackal” and Maryam Nawaz ridiculing him on Twitter for utilizing party members to evade arrest.
The recent drama unfolded when a court in Islamabad issued an arrest warrant for Imran Khan in the Toshakhana corruption case, which relates to his management of gifts received during his time as Prime Minister from foreign visits.
However, when the police attempted to arrest him at his residence in Lahore, they were confronted by a group of PTI supporters who were carrying weapons and showing support for Khan. The officers eventually spoke to Khan’s chief of staff, Shibli Faraz, who promised to cooperate with the legal proceedings.
After waiting outside his residence for approximately an hour, the police from Lahore and Islamabad eventually left the premises. Imran Khan, who had been unavailable during their visit, held a press conference a few hours later. He expressed concern for his safety and cited the serious threat he faced.
Khan, who is 70 years old, is currently recovering from injuries sustained during a political rally in November 2022 when he was shot. According to the reports, he stated that the police were aware of the danger he faced, and he reminded those in the power of their responsibility to prevent any further attacks on his life. Additionally, he referred to his own experience as Prime Minister, during which he was warned that he would be held responsible if anything happened to Nawaz Sharif while in jail.
