No actions taken since issue of Imran Khan's arrest warrant: Islamabad

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
1 Oct 23:51

The Pakistani police denied rumors that any actions were taken following the issue of an arrest warrant against Imran Khan.

Former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan in Islamabad, Pakistan, August 25, 2022 (Reuters)

The Pakistani police announced on Saturday that no actions have been taken yet since an arrest warrant has been issued against former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan, local sources reported.

"The news about the dispatching of an arrest team to Imran Khan is untrue," the police said in a statement broadcast on local media. "The issuing of an arrest warrant is a legal procedure that is carried out on the judicial level."

The police added that "rumors that 300 policemen were sent to Bani Gala to arrest the former prime minister are also untrue and baseless."

Pakistani police issued earlier on Saturday an arrest warrant for former Prime Minister Imran Khan, saying "Khan violated a decision banning public gatherings and accused officials of torturing his detained assistant, Shahbaz Gill."

Imran khan feeding dogs at this very moment while news rife that police intending to arrest him. pic.twitter.com/ONYnrCSHWv
— Senator Shibli Faraz (@shiblifaraz) October 1, 2022

Given Khan's wide base of popular support, it is unlikely that the police would dispatch any arrest team so early since their forces would definitely be met by Khan's angered supporters.

He is seen as a "red line" that must never be crossed by his supporters.

Make no mistake, Imran Khan is our red line.#عمران_خان_ہماری_ریڈ_لائن @ImranKhanPTI pic.twitter.com/OHsBPPzTP4
— Shah Mahmood Qureshi (@SMQureshiPTI) October 1, 2022

Imran Khan is our red line,#عمران_خان_ہماری_ریڈ_لائن pic.twitter.com/jCuDeRANjN
— PTI Multan (@PTIOfficialMTN) October 1, 2022

Pakistan's DAWN newspaper reported that a court issued an arrest warrant against Khan over his remarks against Sessions judge Zeba Chaudhry and other officials during a public gathering on August 20 in Islamabad.

On August 22, the police filed a report and issued charges against Khan under "anti-terror law" over his involvement in the organizing of nationwide rallies while calling for early elections.

Since his ousting from power following a vote of no-confidence last April, Imran Khan has actively organized a series of popular anti-government demonstrations and faced a slew of charges along with other members of his political party Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).

The country's rulers have a history of using the police and courts to silence political opponents, and Premier Sharif has several pending cases brought against him while he was in opposition.