Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi, Feb 17: Imran Khan, the leader of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI), was the subject of high drama at his Lahore home as police descended in force to arrest him and hundreds of his followers and party members gathered to thwart the attempt.
Once Khan’s bail was revoked, a caravan of police cars appeared on the street in front of his opulent Zaman Park residence. As word circulated that Pakistani police intended to detain Khan, PTI supporters began to gather in large groups and set up camp outside his home while yelling slogans.
The cricketer-turned-followers politician’s were visible waving flags and carrying banners as loud music played in the background, creating images that more closely resembled a World Cup triumph celebration than a sit-in protest. People travelling to Zaman Park on foot or in cars could be seen dismantling and tossing barricades aside.
The region continued to have a significant police presence throughout the interim. On the road going to Zaman Park, a lengthy line of police cars and prisoner transport vans could be observed.
Hundreds of PTI supporters, including women and children, began congregating at Zaman Park as Khan’s arrest appeared to be near in order to block any attempt by the police to detain the party chairman.
According to PTI leader Musarat Jamshaid Cheema, if the government attempted to arrest Khan, the entire country would come to the streets, according to Dawn. Other party members vowed to thwart any move to have the party leader arrested.
After several protests broke out in Pakistan in response to the Toshakhana judgement made public by the Election Commission of Pakistan, Imran Khan was arrested in the case last October.
After being hurt in an alleged assassination attempt in Wazirabad at a protest in November of last year, he had been released on medical bail.
