Triggering political tensions, hundreds of workers of Pakistan's Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) gathered in front of party chairman and former Prime Minister Imran Khan's Lahore residence after news of his impending arrest spread like wildfire.
This came as the Lahore High Court on Thursday disposed of a petition filed by Khan seeking protective bail after he failed to appear before it. Though the court had given him time till 6:30 pm to make an appearance, Khan failed to do so.
The PTI chief moved the High Court after an anti-terrorism court rejected his plea to extend his interim bail in a case related to a protest outside the Election Commission of Pakistan's (ECP) office. The case pertains to the incident wherein Khan and several other protestors were arrested for protesting outside the Election Commission of Pakistan's office.
He has since been on bail on medical grounds after surviving an alleged assassination attempt in Wazirabad during a rally in November last year.
On Thursday, the workers, who gathered in front of Khan's residence, chanted slogans against the government. They were also reportedly holding clubs and sticks for their safety.
PTI leader Musarat Jamshaid Cheema told Karachi-based newspaper Dawn that the entire nation would take to the streets if the government tried to arrest the PTI leader. She added that it would not be easy to arrest Khan and they would also start a 'Jail Bharo' campaign.
PTI’s social media focal person Azhar Mashwani too told the newspaper that the PTI workers were permanently camping outside Khan's house to thwart any arrest attempt. The workers are reportedly working in shifts to stay outside the house.
They have also threatened the government and officials that any attempt to enter Khan's Zaman Park residence could result in a "Model Town-type incident." The incident happened in 2014 wherein a violent clash ensued between the Punjab Police and Pakistan Awami Tehreek activists, resulting in the death of several party workers in police gunfire.
US response to Khan
US State Department Spokesperson Ned Price on Wednesday refused to comment on Imran Khan’s remarks absolving the Biden administration of involvement in any conspiracy to topple his government.
"I’m just not going to comment on the evolution of the blame game, as you say," Price said in response to a question from a Pakistani media person.
"We have spoken clearly about this ever since these erroneous allegations surfaced. We’ve consistently said there is no truth to these allegations," Price added.
