By DC news network : Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan may be headed for arrest after the PTI (Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf) supremo was booked under anti-terror laws in relation to comments at a rally. Coming down heavily on the incumbent Shehbaz Sharif-led government, Khan urged ‘neutrals’ to stand with the interests of Islamabad and not ‘thieves’ or the government leaders. Local media reported that Khan refers to the military establishment as neutrals.
“I am asking and want to say to the neutrals, this is a matter of the country. It is very important for you to stand with the nation, justice and Pakistan and not these thieves,” Khan had said during the PTI rally.
The ousted Pakistani leader has been named in an FIR, registered at Islamabad’s Margalla Police Station, for ‘terrorising and threatening’ police officials and a ‘respected female additional sessions judge’ while addressing a public rally. As per the FIR, Khan had referred to a top police official at the PTI rally and threatened them, saying, “We won’t spare you.”
As per reports, Khan threatened to initiate a case against the Islamabad inspector general and deputy inspector general of police and the FIR has sought ‘exemplary punishment’ for Khan. He has been accused of threatening officials for discharging their legitimate duties.
During his rally, Khan had alleged that senior government officials and police personnel had been operating on the orders of ‘someone’ and raised questions about their stature.
“When I asked the police to tell me what you did to Shahbaz Gill, they said ‘we did nothing, we got a boot from behind to follow orders,” Khan had said during the PTI rally.
A PTI leader, Shahbaz Gill, was remanded for two days after an order was rendered by judge Zeba Chaudhry. Khan referred to the female judge during his PTI rally and said that the legal officer should prepare herself as ‘action would be taken against’ her. Gill was arrested on August 9 over alleged controversial remarks on television. He deemed the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority as ‘highly hateful and seditious’.
Alarmed about Khan’s arrest, many PTI workers and his supporters arrived at Khan’s residence in solidarity on Friday. Khan’s associate and PTI leader Fawad Hussain shared on Twitter, “Imran Khan is in his residence in Bani Gala, hundreds of workers have already reached Bani Gala, some people in the leadership are here and thousands of people are now moving to Bani Gala from other parts of the country.”
Having reeled under the embarrassment of being removed as the Pakistan prime minister, Imran Khan is often under troubled waters for targeting the government. In March 2022, the Khan-led PTI regime countered a setback after two allied partners withdrew support and joined the ranks of the Opposition Pakistan Peoples Party in a bid to topple the PTI government. After losing the majority in the Assembly and several defections, Khan was compelled to step down as the prime minister while the PTI founder alleged a larger conspiracy. He maintained that foreign powers had orchestrated his ouster.
