ISLAMABAD: Security personnel that arrived at the residence of Imran Khan in Bani Gala late on Thursday night, were joined by an extra contingent of law enforcers this morning with reports of looming house arrest of the PTI chairman, ARY News reported.
More than 60 officers of the Frontier Constabulary reached the barrier leading to the residence of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, and it is expected that he will either be placed under house-arrest or will be taken into custody.
Khan is expected to address a rally at Sheikh Rasheed’s residence, but the law enforcers have blocked all roads leading to the venue.
PTI leader Ejaz Chaudhry while speaking to ARY News said that the FC was called from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to maintain law and order in the federal capital but is being used to quell peaceful protests.
He said that the Nawaz Shairif is bringing the demise of democracy through his actions on Thursday which includes the raid at a youth convention in Islamabad and the Lal Haveli in Rawalpindi.
PTI Vice-Chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi confirmed on Twitter that he was with the PTI chairman at Bani Gala, and the house had been surrounded by FC.
“We’re not with any weapons, we have the same plans for tomorrow, and we didn’t receive any notice. No one is being allowed to come in or go out of the house. We’re getting reports from all around Pakistan, all the PTI workers are going to protest across Pakistan,” he said.
He said the world would see the face of dictatorship hidden behind the fake democracy the next day. The PTI leader said they would not resist in case of arrest if the law enforcers had warrants for them.
“I don’t have any information regarding the withdrawal of the FC men. A huge number of workers has now gathered outside as well.
He said before (invoking) article 245, he wanted to ask the federal government if they took any action against the people who leaked the controversial news to the media.
According to article 245, the Armed forces shall, under the directions of the federal government, defend Pakistan against external aggression or threat of war, and subject to law, act in aid of civil power when called upon to do so.
Qureshi said that the PTI would not do any talks with anyone until or unless their illegally arrested workers had been released. He said the PTI chairman was watching the government as being panicked, confused and directionless.
“The government has committed political suicide and demise of the democracy by violating the fundamental rights of the constitution,” he said.
He said PML-N had made a mockery of the Islamabad High Court verdict as no roads were blocked. “We’re sticking to the plan for the rally at Lal Haveli on Friday, there’s no change in the plans. By blocking the roads, they themselves are actually violating the IHC verdict,” he said.
