The Chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) political party, Imran Khan, has expressed his fear of another police operation at his residence in Lahore during the upcoming Eid ul Fitr holidays, which could result in his arrest. Khan made his concerns known during the hearing of a petition requesting details of the cases registered against him at the Lahore High Court (LHC). His lawyer urged the court to prevent any further cases against the PTI chief, alleging that state machinery was being used against his client. Khan appeared before the court and informed the bench that he had received credible reports of an operation to be launched against him during the Eid holidays. He further stated that the government has not only attempted to imprison him but is also planning to cause him physical harm.
Khan’s counsel argued that over 140 cases had been filed against the former prime minister and expressed concerns about his potential arrest. He alleged that the police were using “police stations for political point-scoring” and that it was necessary for the police high-ups to appear in court and explain whether the arrest was even necessary. The lawyer stated that according to the law, it is necessary to explain the reasons for the arrest and that it was not possible to pay fees for so many cases.
Khan appeared before the court and informed the bench that despite court orders, the police had previously damaged his home during the Zaman Park operation. He shared that he had received information about an upcoming operation at his residence during the Eid holidays and expressed concerns about potential bloodshed. He accused the government of not only attempting to imprison him but also planning to cause him physical harm. “They want to eliminate me,” he claimed.
The Punjab government’s lawyer told the court that seeking the court’s permission for investigating someone was not legal, and that the petition was unmaintainable. The court took a brief break, and when Justice Tariq Saleem Sheikh and Justice Farooq Haider returned, they announced that they were sending the case to the chief justice of the LHC for the formation of a full bench on the case.
Khan’s petition seeks to halt “coercive government action” against PTI and the quashment of multiple cases filed against him on identical charges. Filed by the PTI on Saturday, the plea nominated nine authorities and individuals as respondents, including the prime minister, interior minister, Punjab caretaker chief minister, inspector general of police Punjab, the National Accountability Bureau, and the Federal Investigation Agency.
Khan’s lawyers argued that state machinery was being misused against their client, and new cases were being filed against him with each passing day. They expressed concerns regarding Khan’s potential arrest and demanded that the police high-ups should appear in court and explain whether the arrest was even necessary. They claimed that the police were using “police stations for political point-scoring,” and that it was necessary for the police to explain the reasons for the arrest, as paying fees for so many cases was not possible.
In conclusion, Imran Khan has expressed concerns about his potential arrest and the misuse of state machinery against him. The Lahore High Court has yet to rule on the PTI chief’s petition, but the case has been sent to the chief justice of the LHC for the formation of a full bench on the matter. The situation remains tense, and it remains to be seen how it will unfold.
