Punjab police leave Zaman Park as negotiations with PTI end

LAHORE: The four-member delegation of Punjab police has departed from Zaman Park residence of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan after concluding talks with the former premier and his legal team over the search operation, ARY News reported on Friday.

According to details, the four-member delegation included Lahore Commissioner Muhammad Ali Randhawa, Lahore Deputy Commissioner Rafia Haider, DIG Operations Sadiq Dogar and SSP Operations Sohaib.

The delegation held negotiations with Imran Khan and his legal team to mull over the standard operating procedures (SOPs) for a search operation at Zaman Park. However, there are no details about the talks so far.

ARY News correspondent at the site reported that the government team left the residence without answering the journalists’ questions. Commissioner Lahore – who was leading the delegation – refused to answer any questions related to search operation.

Meanwhile, it was reported that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) will soon issue a detailed statement regarding the negotiations held with government team.

The government team visited Imran Khan’s residence to mull over the SOPs for a search operation as the authorities claim there are “30-40 terrorists” present inside Zaman Park.

The delegation came to Zaman Park after the authorities received search warrants from an anti-terrorism court to raid the former prime minister’s residence.

The team led by Commissioner Lahore also visited the camp present in Zaman Park. They also met Imran Khan and tabled the search warrant obtained earlier today.

Sources told ARY News that the government team arrived in Zaman Park for implementation of search warrant. The team also ruled out possibility of ‘any operation’ in Zaman Park, sources claimed.

On May 17, Punjab caretaker information minister Amir Mir claimed that 30 to 40 terrorists, who had attacked Army installations including Jinnah House, were present in Zaman Park.

The Punjab minister said that the agencies were able to confirm the presence of the “terrorists” in Zaman Park through geo-fencing.

‘Suspects arrested’

Earlier in the day, the Punjab Police claimed to have arrested six more ‘alleged terrorists’ attempting to flee from PTI Chairman Imran Khan’s Zaman Park residence.

Lahore Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Bilal Saddique Kamyana said that six more “terrorists” were arrested fleeing ex-PM Imran Khan’s Zaman Park residence, taking the total arrests to 14.

According to CCPO four of the alleged “terrorists” were involved in the attack on Askari Tower while two of them were among those who ransacked the Corps Commander House Lahore [Jinnah House].

The arrest comes a day after Punjab Caretaker Information Minister Amir Mir claimed that eight “terrorists” had been arrested while they were escaping from Zaman Park area.

‘Future course of plan’

Talking to ARY News exclusively, Punjab Interim Information Minister Amir Mir yesterday said that the delegation of Punjab police will set a time with Imran and then search his house in the presence of cameras.

“They will ask the former prime minister to allow them to conduct a search operation. A police party — comprising 400 personnel — will accompany the delegation as there is a reported presence of terrorists,” he added.

Moreover, he said, if Imran Khan refused to allow for conducting search operation, a meeting will be held at 07:00 pm for future ‘course of plan’.

Protests

Violent clashes broke out across Pakistan after the former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chief Imran Khan were arrested from the premises of Islamabad High Court (IHC) last week.

The protests were held in remote and major cities as the party workers are agitated due to their chairman’s arrest, with Balochistan, Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Islamabad summoning the armed forces to ensure law and order.

Army installations and Corps Commander’s house in Lahore came under attack during a protest by PTI workers.