Court Pauses Attempt To Arrest Pakistan Ex-PM Imran Khan After Fresh Clashes

By RFE/RL's Radio Mashaal

March 15, 2023 12:08 CET Updated March 15, 2023 13:10 CET

Supporters of former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan chant slogans as they protest his possible arrest, on March 14 in Karachi, Pakistan.

A Pakistani court has ordered police to halt an operation to arrest Imran Khan after fresh clashes between supporters of the former prime minister and security forces trying to detain him at his residence in the northeastern city of Lahore caused dozens of injuries.

Local media reported that more than 60 people -- as many as 50 of them police officers -- were injured in the clashes that extended overnight and into March 15, with dozens of people being admitted to hospital for treatment.

Following the incidents, the Lahore High Court ruled that the police operation be paused until March 16 at 10 a.m. local time.

The clashes started on March 14, when followers of Khan's political party, Pakistan Tehrik-e Insaf (PTI), gathered outside Khan's residence in Lahore after police arrived to arrest Khan in a case involving state gifts.

Clashes Break Out As Authorities Attempt To Arrest Pakistan's Former Prime Minister

Followers of Pakistan’s main political party, Pakistan Tehrik-e Insaf (PTI), clashed with police on March 14 outside the residence of party chairman and former Prime Minister Imran Khan in eastern Lahore after police arrived to arrest him.<br />
<br /> — 1/10 Followers of Pakistan’s main political party, Pakistan Tehrik-e Insaf (PTI), clashed with police on March 14 outside the residence of party chairman and former Prime Minister Imran Khan in eastern Lahore after police arrived to arrest him.

Supporters of the former prime minister fought off riot police as they tried to enter the compound.<br />
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Khan is accused of selling official gifts received from foreign dignitaries without authorization and failing to disclose them as assets to the electoral commission.<br />
<br />
<br /> — 2/10 Supporters of the former prime minister fought off riot police as they tried to enter the compound.

Khan is accused of selling official gifts received from foreign dignitaries without authorization and failing to disclose them as assets to the electoral commission.

Supporters set fires and blocked roads during the clashes with police, who fired tear gas and water cannons at the stone-pelting crowds.<br />
<br />
Two courts in Islamabad on March 13 issued arrest warrants for Khan over his failure to appear before judges in the graft case.<br />
<br /> — 3/10 Supporters set fires and blocked roads during the clashes with police, who fired tear gas and water cannons at the stone-pelting crowds.

Two courts in Islamabad on March 13 issued arrest warrants for Khan over his failure to appear before judges in the graft case.

Khan addresses the media on November 4, 2022, a day after an assassination attempt on his life. <br />
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Since his ouster last April in a no-confidence vote in parliament, Khan has routinely ignored arrest warrants and court summonses in a string of cases, claiming they are a plot by the government led by his successor, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. — 4/10 Khan addresses the media on November 4, 2022, a day after an assassination attempt on his life.

Since his ouster last April in a no-confidence vote in parliament, Khan has routinely ignored arrest warrants and court summonses in a string of cases, claiming they are a plot by the government led by his successor, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

At least 69 people have been injured in the violence in Lahore, including 34 police officers, a Pakistani police official said on the condition of anonymity. — 5/10 At least 69 people have been injured in the violence in Lahore, including 34 police officers, a Pakistani police official said on the condition of anonymity.

6/10 Video images released by PTI showed police striking Khan supporters with batons and lobbing tear-gas canisters, some of which landed on the lawn of Khan's house, while Khan's supporters hurled rocks and bricks at the officers.

7/10 A police officer fires a tear gas shell to disperse Khan's supporters.

PTI supporters chant anti-government slogans in Lahore on March 14.<br />
<br /> — 8/10 PTI supporters chant anti-government slogans in Lahore on March 14.

9/10 Anti-government protests were also reported in other cities around Pakistan.

Vehicles burned late into the night after the clashes.<br />
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Khan has skipped indictment hearings three times in the case in which he is accused of concealing details of the gifts in his asset declarations. — 10/10 Vehicles burned late into the night after the clashes.

Khan has skipped indictment hearings three times in the case in which he is accused of concealing details of the gifts in his asset declarations.

Since his ouster last April in a no-confidence vote in parliament, Khan has repeatedly ignored arrest warrants and court summons in a string of cases against him, claiming they are a plot by the government led by his successor, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

Sharif told Pakistan's Geo television on March 14 that Khan's arrest was ordered by a court and was not political.

Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah told a rally broadcast live on local TV that police would arrest Khan and present him in court, but an aide to Khan, Shah Mehmood Qureshi, told reporters the former prime minister had secured "protective bail" from a court and therefore police could not arrest him.

Two courts in Islamabad on March 13 issued arrest warrants for Khan over his failure to appear before judges in a case involving accusations that Khan has concealed details of gifts received while he was prime minister in his asset declarations, and in a terrorism case.

Khan has failed to attend indictment hearings three times in the gifts case.

A district and sessions court restored nonbailable arrest warrants for Khan in the gifts case, and instructed the police to arrest him and present him in court by March 18.

Khan has called on his supporters to reach his residence in Lahore in video messages and tweets. He urged his supporters to "continue the struggle."

With reporting by Reuters and AP

RFE/RL's Radio Mashaal

RFE/RL's Radio Mashaal is a public-service broadcaster providing a powerful alternative to extremist propaganda in Pakistan's remote tribal regions along the border with Afghanistan.

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Court Pauses Attempt To Arrest Pakistan Ex-PM Imran Khan After Fresh Clashes

Clashes Break Out As Authorities Attempt To Arrest Pakistan's Former Prime Minister

With reporting by Reuters and AP

RFE/RL's Radio Mashaal

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