While addressing the nation, Imran Khan on Sunday said that the party would stage a power show at Minar-i-Pakistan — the same venue where he launched his campaign for the 2013 elections.
He added the rally would take place on Wednesday (March 22), and it would be a “referendum” on where the nation stood.
On Saturday, as Khan arrived at the Federal Judicial Complex (FJC) to attend a hearing in the Toshakhana case, clashes between his supporters and police broke out. At least 25 people were injured, 30 automobiles, including motorbikes, and a police chowki was set on fire during hours-long clashes in the federal capital.
Meanwhile, Punjab police conducted a search operation in Imran Khan’s residence in Lahore while he was in Islamabad to appear before the judge. Khan said the entire nation knew he always respected the law, and he alleged that 96 cases had been registered against him.
“Whenever I leave the house, more cases are registered against me. Who is doing this? The criminals responsible for doing this to the country are the ones registering cases against me,” Imran Khan said.
Khan alleged the coalition government for an attempt on his life in Wazirabad, adding they had backup of handlers. Imran said that he was ready to hand himself over to the police but he was stopped from doing so by his party workers who feared harm would befall the party chief.
“Yesterday, when I left my house, I said my goodbyes to my wife. I knew that I’d either be arrested or killed. With that thought in mind, I left my home.”
The chaos at Zaman Park residence in Lahore was disappointing for many reasons according to PTI members and government opposition. The party chief’s house was attacked similarly to that of terrorist hideouts. Police rangers and armored vehicles had surrounded Khan’s residence from three directions, and police used water cannons and tear gas to disperse the crowd.
Talking to reporters, Dr. Uzma Khanum, Imran Khan’s sister had said the policemen “seemed blood-thirsty” as they brutally thrashed unarmed people in the house and alleged that the police also abducted her husband and some servants.
Furthermore, a Lahore court on Sunday directed the police to present 102 detained PTI workers before an Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) tomorrow, a day after they were arrested during the raid that took place at Imran Khan’s Zaman Park residence when the police forced its way into his house.
In his opening remarks, Khan said the upcoming PTI power show to be held on Wednesday will be a referendum on where the public stands. Everyone will know where the nation stands, and where the cabal of crooks and their handlers stand.
