Pakistani police kept up their siege around Imran Khan’s home as a 24-hour deadline given to the ex-premier – to give up suspects allegedly sheltered inside – expired.
The siege and the authorities’ demand for the suspects, wanted over violent protests over Mr Khan’s recent detention, have angered the former prime minister’s many followers and is raising concerns about more clashes between them and security forces.
Last week, Mr Khan’s supporters attacked public property and military installations after he was dragged out of a courtroom and arrested.
At least 10 people were killed in clashes with police across the country in that days that followed.
My full speech earlier today.
PTI has always been a peaceful & democratic Party. Numerous examples I shared where we showed restraint and chose a peaceful solution to avoid confrontation even if it meant a set back for me or the party.
I ask the authorities to conduct a… pic.twitter.com/Av863plYuP
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) May 17, 2023
The violence subsided only when Pakistan’s Supreme Court ordered Mr Khan’s release.
The popular opposition leader was freed from custody over the weekend and returned to his home in an upscale district of Lahore, Pakistan’s second largest city and the capital of the Punjab region.
Dozens of his supporters have been staying there with him along with private guards.
Police, who on Wednesday surrounded the home, say they want 40 suspects to be handed over.
The ultimatum for Mr Khan ended at 2pm local time (10am UK time) on Thursday but there was no immediate sign of movement from police.
Mr Khan’s party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, invited reporters to the house to witness any police raids on the premises.
Hours after the expiry of the ultimatum, Hassan Javed, a senior police official, told reporters officers were waiting for a signal from the government to launch the raid.
He said police captured at least eight suspects after they left Mr Khan’s house and tried to escape via a nearby canal.
Usually, between 200 to 300 of Mr Khan’s supporters, holding sticks, guard his residence around the clock, but most disappeared overnight.
Police have barricaded a key road leading to the house and asked residents to use an alternate route.
“Probably my last tweet before my next arrest,” the 70-year-old former cricketer tweeted on Wednesday after the siege started.
Our democracy, our judiciary, our constitution and the rule of law has been made a complete mockery by the current fascist set up . Like our other leaders , Shireen Mazari after getting bail was rearrested and taken to another jail . 7500 of our workers have been arrested with…
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) May 17, 2023
“Police have surrounded my house.”
Later, Mr Khan addressed his supporters, saying police can only search his house with a search warrant and “not barge in, creating chaos”.
According to Amir Mir, a spokesman for the Punjab provincial government, police are ready to use firearms if attacked.
He told a press conference on Thursday at least 3,400 suspects linked to the clashes have been arrested and more raids are planned.
Pakistani authorities have said they will prosecute in military courts civilians involved in recent anti-government protests.
The announcement has drawn criticism from the advocacy group Amnesty International and the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, which oppose trials of civilians in the military courts.
Military trials in Pakistan are usually held behind closed doors, depriving civilians of some of their basic rights, including contracting a lawyer of their choice.
Mr Khan was ousted after a confidence vote in Parliament last year.
Probably my last tweet before my next arrest .Police has surrounded my house.https://t.co/jsGck6uFRj
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) May 17, 2023
He says his removal was illegal and a western conspiracy.
He now faces more than 100 legal cases, mainly on charges of inciting people to violence, threatening officials and defying a ban on rallies.
He also faces a graft case along with his wife and was summoned by the National Accountability Bureau to answer questions in connection with the case on Thursday.
But Mr Khan informed the agency he could not attend because he was busy struggling to get protection from arrest in many of the cases against him. In his written reply to the agency, he said its probe against him was politically motivated.
He is expected to address a rally of supporters on the outskirts of Lahore later in the day.
