Former prime minister and PTI chief Imran Khan has lashed out at Punjab police for conducting a surprise search operation at his Zaman Park residence in Lahore, saying he is “immediately” moving court against the law enforcement agency for violating the sanctity of his home and resorting to ‘violence’ against the party workers.
In a series of tweets on Saturday, the deposed premier said the police’s “assault” on his house was a contempt of court.
“We had agreed that an SP [superintendent of police] with one of our people would implement a search warrant bec[ause] we knew otherwise they would plant stuff on their own, which they did,” he added.
The assault on my house today was first of all a contempt of court. We had agreed that an SP with one of our people would implement a search warrant bec we knew otherwise they would plant stuff on their own, which they did. Under what law did they break the gate, pull down trees pic.twitter.com/110uTeIlce
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) March 18, 2023
Punjab Inspector General of Police (IGP) Dr Usman Anwar earlier claimed that weapons were recovered during today’s search operation.
“We have recovered weapons from Imran Khan’s house. There are more arms present there. An impression was being given that it is a no-go area but we have cleared it,” the Punjab IGP said during a press conference, flanked by Caretaker Punjab Minister for Information Amir Mir.
Reacting to the police action, Imran asked, “Under what law did they [police] break the gate, pull down trees and barge into the house heavily armed. Worse, they did this after I left to present myself before Islamabad court, and Bushra bibi, a totally private non-political person, was alone in house. This is a total violation of the Islamic principle of sanctity of chadar & char diwari.”
Also read: Police launch surprise ‘assault’ on Imran’s Zaman Park residence
He also announced “immediately” taking up the contempt issue, violation of the sanctity of his home and the violence against his party workers and his domestic staff with judiciary.
I am going to immediately take up the contempt issue, violation of the sanctity of my home & the violence against my workers & our domestic staff with our Judiciary.
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) March 18, 2023
His statement came hours after PTI filed a petition in Lahore High Court against today’s search operation conducted at former prime minister Imran Khan’s Zaman Park residence by the Punjab police, allegedly violating the TORs agreed by the provincial administration, police and PTI leadership.
The petitioner, PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry filed the petition through advocate Azhar Siddique, requesting the court to pass directions to chief secretary, Inspector General Police (IGP) Punjab, caretaker chief minister Punjab and others to immediately stop and refrain from restarting the “illegal operation” in future.
The petitioner contended in his petition that a brutal and illegal police operation by the use of force and heavy artillery is underway at the residence of PTI chief and former prime minster Imran Khan in sheer disregard of privacy of female citizens including the wife of Imran Khan.
