LAHORE , May 19, 2023: After the caretaker provincial information minister claimed eight arrests of ‘terrorists’ on Thursday, the capital city police chief announced Friday six more arrests of suspects who were attempting to flee from PTI Chairman Imran Khan’s Zaman Park residence.
Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Bilal Saddique Kamyana said 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.
The latest arrest comes a day after Punjab Caretaker Information Minister Amir Mir claimed that eight suspects had been arrested while they were escaping from Lahore’s Zaman Park area.
According to Mir, the detained terrorists were already identified and are allegedly involved in the attack on the Lahore Corps Commander House on May 9.
— Govt’s delegation to visit Zaman Park for negotiations —
On Thursday, Minister Amir Mir had said the government would send a ‘delegation’ to PTI chief Imran Khan’s residence after Friday prayers that would seek his permission and request him to allow them to search his residence.
Speaking to a private TV channel, he said the Lahore commissioner would head the delegation comprising police officers, adding that they would conduct operation in the presence of cameras. “At least 400 police personnel will accompany the commissioner as the number of terrorists is 40, not four,” he added.
If Mr Khan did not permit, he said, the government would deliberate its next plan of action. “Others are also hiding in the houses of Mr Khan’s relatives,” he said.
He went on to say that eight “terrorists” who tried to flee Mr Khan’s residence were arrested, adding that the authorities traced their location through geo-fencing.
As for Mr Khan’s arrest, he said the Punjab government had no plans to arrest him, adding that if police did not go to Zaman Park, some other force would.
Earlier, Civil Lines SP Hassan Bhatti said police arrested eight “suspects” who had taken refuge in Zaman Park. “They were trying to flee Mr Khan’s residence,” he added.
Speaking to the media, he said there were still other people hiding around Mr Khan’s residence at Zaman Park. “Police will investigate them and share more details later,” he added.
Punjab govt’s earlier stance
Earlier, according to Amir Mir, police were ready to use firearms if attacked. He told a news conference on Thursday that at least 3,400 suspects linked to the clashes had been arrested and that more raids were planned. On Wednesday night, Mr Mir said the government had no intention to arrest PTI chief Imran Khan until the 24-hour deadline was over.
He said the provincial caretaker set-up would reveal its plans after the expiry of the deadline. “The deadline will expire at 2pm tomorrow (Thursday),” he added.
Earlier, the caretaker Punjab government gave a 24-hour deadline to the PTI to hand over “30 to 40 terrorists” who, it claimed, were hiding at Imran Khan’s Zaman Park residence in Lahore to police.
The warning came from caretaker Information Minister Aamir Mir who addressed a presser in the provincial capital. The minister said the PTI had started behaving like a non-state actor as its chief had been targeting the military for more than one year.
He claimed that attacks on military installations and at other places were carried out during May 9 violent protests under a plan, saying the government had adopted a “zero tolerance policy” towards it.
Mr Mir told reporters that interim Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi had given a “free hand” to the Punjab police to deal with “arsonists”.
The interim minister said it had been decided that those who attacked military installations would be tried in military courts. He said no innocent person would be penalised as all cases were being forwarded after confirmation. He said the “PTI miscreants” crossed the red line on May 9. He said more than 3,400 attackers had been arrested and 254 cases registered.