Former Pakistan prime minister and PTI chairman Imran Khan (file photo)
Islamabad: Pakistani police have registered a terrorism case against former Prime Minister Imran Khan and over a dozen PTI leaders. They are being accused of indulging in vandalism, attacking security personnel, and creating unrest outside the judicial complex ahead of a court hearing.
This forced Additional District and Sessions Judge Zafar Iqbal to defer the court hearing till March 30.
On Saturday, Khan arrived in Islamabad to attend the hearing in the Toshakhana case. He had earlier refused to come to court citing security reasons which led to an arrest warrant. Yesterday, clashes erupted outside the court between Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf workers and police. Over 25 security personnel were injured.
According to Geo News, the case is against arrested PTI workers and wanted party leaders. About 17 PTI leaders were named in the FIR lodged by the Islamabad Police. It states that the workers damaged the police check post and the main gate of the judicial complex. As many as 18 people were arrested for arson, pelting stones, and breaking the judicial complex's building. About two police vehicles and seven motorcycles were burned, and the official vehicle of the station house officer (SHO) was damaged.
When Khan departed his Lahore residence to attend the hearing in Islamabad, over 10,000 armed Punjab police personnel breached the house and arrested dozens of his party workers. The police used a power shovel to remove the barricades and tents at the entrance of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party chief's residence and evicted hundreds of his supporters camping there to prevent Khan's arrest. A search was conducted after demolishing the main gate walls.
PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry said the operation was "illegal" and the party will file a case against the police officers involved in the violence.
"Today, a meeting of the legal team has been called. The way in which the police defied the Lahore High Court's decision entering Imran Khan's residence has trampled every rule of the home's sanctity. [things were] stolen. [They] also took away juice boxes. Innocent people were subjected to torture," he tweeted. "Defying court order is unforgivable. The high court should guard its judgment. Cases are being registered on all police officers who conducted illegal operations and were involved in violence," he added.