Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan has said that he doesn’t understand “why Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir is backing the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM)”.

“I do not understand this…I am surprised that a strange atmosphere has been created,” he told BBC. “I don’t understand why the COAS is backing them (PDM). Don’t they understand that the institution is being harmed?”

These comments from Khan came at the time when a heavy contingent of police came to arrest the PTI chief at Zaman Park, his residence in Lahore, in the Toshakhana case.

“I’m mentally prepared that I’m going to be spending my night in a cell,” he said. “I don’t know how many nights, but I’m all prepared for that.”

He went on to add that authorities were trying to arrest him to stop his party from taking part in forthcoming elections. “Whether I am in jail or not, they will not be able to stop my party from winning the election.”

The clashes between the police personnel and PTI supporters continued throughout the night when police fired tear gas at them who in turn have been hurling stones at the Police and Rangers.

However, Khan believes that the present government cannot do anything without the support of the establishment. He regrets that the army and the country’s largest political party are being brought face to face.

“Today, if the establishment stops backing them, they won’t last a single day. I regret that the promises made to Nawaz Sharif at the time of the appointment of the army chief are being fulfilled. Which country creates a distance between the people and the army?”

It is worth mentioning here that the warrant was issued on Monday when the PTI chief failed to appear in the case despite repeated assurances.

However, the Islamabad High Court will be hearing a petition from the PTI to cancel the arrest warrant for Imran Khan. Chief Justice Aamir Farooq will hear the petition.