Leaders of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf have asked supporters to reach party chief Imran Khan’s residence, Zaman Park, in Lahore as they claim the police have blocked roads leading to the house.
“You all know they cannot compete with Imran Khan at any stage so it has been decided to arrest Imran Khan,” PTI leader Murad Saeed said in an audio message shared by the party in a tweet. He asked all the workers in Lahore to reach the PTI chief’s residence.
The development comes hours after Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah said in a press conference that Imran deserved to be arrested after a two-member bench of the Lahore High Court rejected Imran’s protective bail petition filed against the FIR registered against him at Islamabad’s Sangjani police station.
Sanaullah had added that he would share similar concerns with the government.
Soon after PTI’s Saeed and the party’s update on Twitter, “Zaman Park” and “Imran Khan our red line” were among the top trends on Twitter. Moreover, many supporters thronged the residence. The party shared videos showing that a heavy contingent of police mobile vans had reached Imran’s residence.
Saeed called the supporters to come out on streets across the country if leaders were arrested. “All of you come out for your rights and Haqeeqi Azadi (real freedom).”
Hammad Azhar, who served as energy minister in the PTI cabinet, said that the life and security of Imran were “very important”.
“I think the kind of postings have been made, especially in Punjab those people have been appointed who are responsible for May 25 violence so we cannot take any risk,” he told ARY News.
PTI’s Musarrat Cheema shared videos she was clearing roads.
Kanwal Shauzab urged workers to make a “human shield” as the government was planning to “arrest Imran”.