Tag: Zaman Park

  • ‘This army is mine’: Khan stresses that he has no fight with military

    ‘This army is mine’: Khan stresses that he has no fight with military

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan has again stressed that he has no fight with the military.

    Talking with journalists in Zaman Park, Khan said: “There is no fight with the army, this army is mine.”

    Earlier, Khan said that he is ready to talk to Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir, however, he was of the view that the army chief treats him like his enemy.

    Commenting on the mass departure of leaders from his party, Khan said, “I will give a big surprise in the coming days.”

    Khan said some party leaders are leaving the party under compulsion while some have been exposed.

    He also claimed that PTI will win the next general elections despite the desertions of party leaders.

    In case of Imran’s disqualification, the PTI chief said, Vice Chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi would lead the party.

  • Game is over, Maryam Nawaz tells Imran

    Game is over, Maryam Nawaz tells Imran

    In an explosive speech, Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) Senior Vice President Maryam Nawaz attacked Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan, calling him the mastermind of the May 9 riots.

    While addressing a public gathering in Vehari, Maryam condemned the May 9 incident, saying, “My heart cries tears of blood over the events that happened on May 9. I dedicate this rally to martyrs and their parents, children and widows.”

    She alleged that the “terrorist plan” was hatched in Zaman Park, Imran Khan’s Lahore residence where he has been living for the past several months. “The May 9 attacks were pre-planned,” she alleged.

    “Why didn’t the groups of people attack the shopping centre in front of the Corps Commander’s House?” she questioned, accusing “mastermind” Khan of instructing the protesters about which places to attack.

    Talking about the recent string of PTI leaders leaving the party, she told Imran Khan that the “game is over”.

  • Imran Khan given notice to pay Rs1.4 million luxury tax on Zaman Park home

    Imran Khan given notice to pay Rs1.4 million luxury tax on Zaman Park home

    Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan has been sent a notice by the Excise and Taxation Department to pay Rs1.4 million as luxury tax on his Zaman Park residence.

    The last date for paying the tax is Monday, however, the department will serve another notice in case the amount is not paid.

    Imran Khan, who owns the house along with his four sisters, has reportedly received the notice.

    In April, the former Prime Minister was served a notice demanding clearing of Rs3.6 million in luxury tax arrears. In case the notice is not paid, the department reserves the right to approach Election Commission of Pakistan.

  • Imran Khan says crackdown on party worse than Zia, Musharraf eras

    Imran Khan says crackdown on party worse than Zia, Musharraf eras

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan has expressed concern on recent crackdowns by law-enforcement authorities on party members.

    In a tweet, Khan said that such episodes didn’t even take place during General Ziaul Haq and General Pervez Musharraf’s regimes.

    He added that despite all of this his party will not bow down.

    The Punjab government has claimed that terrorists who were involved in the attack on military installations on May 9, are hiding at Khan’s Zaman Park residence. The authorities have asked the former Prime Minister to hand them over. On May 18, an operation was expected to take place at Imran Khan’s home, however, it didn’t happen.

    Now, it is being reported that Punjab police have obtained warrants from the court to carry out a search operation in Zaman Park.

    According to details, an officer of the rank superintendent of police will lead the party which will also include female personnel. Commissioner Lahore Division will accompany the search team.

  • After Zaman Park, Punjab police raid Elahi’s house and arrest women

    After Zaman Park, Punjab police raid Elahi’s house and arrest women

    In the late hours of Friday night, a heavy contingent of officials from anti-corruption department and police reached the Gulberg residence of former Chief Minister (CM) Pervaiz Elahi in Lahore to arrest him in a corruption case.

    According to Elahi’s lawyer, pre-arrest bail had already been taken from a court until May 6 in the particular case. However, the team insisted that they need Elahi in a new case and they would not leave without arresting him.

    Sometime later, the raiding team used an armoured vehicle to break down the main gate of Elahi’s house, arresting multiple staff members. Female police officers also took women into custody.

    The plan was to arrest Elahi too, however, after a thorough search they couldn’t find him.

    They also tried to force their way into the adjoining residence of PML-Q President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, but they were resisted by Shujaat’s sons.

    After the episode, Elahi’s son moved the Lahore High Court (LHC) to stop the police. Many politicians, including Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan, strongly condemned the raid.

  • Fear of operation at Zaman Park: Bushra Bibi writes letter to PM Shehbaz and interim CM Naqvi

    Former First Lady Bushra Bibi has written a letter to Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif and interim Chief Minister (CM) of Punjab Mohsin Naqvi.

    It is being reported that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan’s wife has sent the letter through her lawyers to the premier and caretaker CM due to fear of a government operation in Zaman Park on Eid.

    The letter states that a court order has been issued in the matter of the government conducting an operation at Imran’s Lahore residence. It further adds that a plan has been hatched to misinterpret the court order, while reminding the recipients that an operation has been conducted in the past despite court orders. The document warns that if an operation takes place in Zaman Park on Eid, then higher courts will be approached.

  • Khan buys bulletproof gate for Zaman Park house worth Rs15 lakh

    Khan buys bulletproof gate for Zaman Park house worth Rs15 lakh

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan has bought a new bulletproof gate for his Lahore residence in Zaman Park amid fear of a possible operation by the government.

    The gate, which has now been delivered, has reportedly cost between Rs12 lakh and Rs15 lakh.

    On Monday, Khan apprised the Lahore High Court (LHC) that he had “concrete information” of another “attack” at his Zaman Park residence during the Eid holidays.

    In March, Punjab police launched an operation in Zaman Park when Khan was on his way to Islamabad to appear before the court in the Toshkahana case.

    The police crashed into the gate before entering the premises.

  • Another police operation planned at Zaman Park on Eid, claims Khan

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan has informed the Lahore High Court (LHC) on Monday that he fears the government may launch another “operation” during Eid ul Fitr holidays at his Zaman Park residence in a bid to arrest him.

    “There is risk of bloodshed,” he claimed.

    A two-member bench of the high court recommended that Imran Khan’s petition be placed before a larger bench against the registration of similar cases and disciplinary proceedings against him.

    The bench, comprising of Justice Tariq Saleem Sheikh and Justice Farooq Haider, sent the file to the Chief Justice of the Lahore High Court.

    Khan testified in court that despite court orders, the police had previously damaged his home during the Zaman Park operation, adding that the court had ordered the police not to launch an operation in Zaman Park, yet it had happened.

    “Now during the holidays, they will launch an operation. I have credible reports that they will launch an operation. The court must stop them,” Khan urged, adding that the “law of the jungle” prevails where people are first arrested and then they are informed about the accusations.

    “I am just informing you about the threats beforehand,” Khan said and returned to his seat.

  • All weapons recovered from Imran’s Zaman Park residence are illegal, says police

    The Lahore police has said that all the weapons that were recovered by the authorities from Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan’s residence in Zaman Park are “unlicensed and illegal”.

    On March 20, Punjab Police raided Khan’s Zaman Park home, taking apart the entrance gate with a crane and entering the house, stating that they had search warrants.

    At the time, Khan was on his way to Islamabad to appear before a court in the Toshkhana case. He said that his wife Bushra Bibi was alone at home.

    The police said at least 13 SMGs, 7 Kalashnikovs, and 340 bullets were recovered from Zaman Park.

    Earlier, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah claimed that police found 16 rifles, arms, bombs and a bomb-making factory in Zaman Park.

  • The State VS. Imran Khan

    The State VS. Imran Khan

    For almost an entire week, we have witnessed violent clashes between the police and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) workers in Punjab’s capital, Lahore. And on Saturday, the same visuals could be seen in both Lahore and the country’s federal capital, Islamabad. The state vs PTI Chairman Imran Khan paints a sorry picture for both politics and the writ of the state. It is as if no one cares about the consequences these clashes will lead to. The visuals on our television screens and on social media can lead one to think that no one is bothered about civility, be it the police or Khan loyalists. The past few days, we have seen lawlessness, desperation and disarray.

    It could all have been avoided had Imran Khan presented himself before the court in the Toshakhana case on March 13. He had been summoned numerous times, but Khan refused to show up. After his non-bailable arrest warrants were issued by the court, the police acted on it and tried to arrest Khan. However, Khan refused to budge. Eventually, there was only chaos and mayhem. There was drama, disruption and disorder yet neither the state nor Khan and his party took a step back. We saw petrol bombs thrown at the police by PTI workers, tear gas and heavy shelling by the police. Yesterday, Khan’s non-bailable arrest warrants were finally cancelled by the court when he went to Islamabad. Though he could not go inside the court due to the clashes in the judicial complex between the PTI workers and the Islamabad Police, the court still accepted his ‘appearance’ while he was inside his car.

    On the other hand, when Khan was on his way to Islamabad, the police in Lahore went to his Zaman Park residence to conduct a search operation. From bulldozing walls to throwing paintings here and there, the police claims to have allegedly recovered weapons and petrol bombs from Zaman Park. PTI will move the court for contempt proceedings against the police for alleged violence against PTI workers, Khan’s staff and for violating the sanctity of Khan’s home. Both the use of force by the police and the way that Khan resisted his arrest through violence have raised several questions.

    What could have been done to avoid all the unrest that Lahore had to bear? Khan should have followed the rule of law and appeared before the court on March 13. The state’s response when its writ was challenged was shelling, rubber bullets, tear gas and breaking the gate of Khan’s residence at Zaman Park. What we have seen is that when titans collide, everything gets destroyed and no one really wins. Both ends lose and there is nothing to celebrate. We hope that after this episode, there will not be a repeat of what we saw last week. We hope that party workers and state institutions show patience, civil ways to support their leaders and not create law and order situation. We hope to see less political chaos and more stability in the coming days.