Pakistan: Punjab Govt Gives Imran Khan's Party 24 Hours To Hand Over 'Terrorists' Hiding In Ex-PM's Home
The Punjab government said those holed up at Imran Khan's residence included the attackers who set on fire the Lahore Corps Commander house during violence earlier this month.
The interim Punjab government in Pakistan on Wednesday gave a 24-hour deadline to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to hand over "30-40 terrorists that have taken refuge" at former prime minister Imran Khan's Zaman Park residence in Lahore to the police, Dawn reported.
Punjab Interim Information Minister Amir Mir said those holed up at Imran Khan's residence included the attackers who set on fire the Lahore Corps Commander house during violence earlier this month.
"PTI should handover these terrorists or the law will take its course," Mir said while addressing a press conference in Lahore. He said the government was aware about the presence of these "terrorists" as it had credible intelligence reports.
Mir said interim Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi had given a "freehand" to the Punjab Police to deal with "arsonists", Geo News reported.
"Several arsonists were in touch with people inside Zaman Park during the attack on the Corps Commander House. They will be made an example so that no one will carry out such an act in the future," Mir further said.
The minister alleged that Khan had been targeting the military since over a year. "PTI is starting to behave like a non-state actor. The PTI leadership had planned the attack before the arrest (Imran Khan)," Mir said.
The minister further added that the government had decided that those who attacked military installations would be tried in military courts.
He said 795 attackers were identified, out of which 78 have been physically remanded and 609 have been judicially remanded.
Earlier this month, in retaliation to Imran Khan's dramatic arrest in the Al-Qadir Trust corruption case, his supporters stormed the Army headquarters in Rawalpindi and torched the historic Corps Commander's House in Lahore, formerly known as Jinnah House.
Khan's arrest by the paramilitary, on the directives of the National Accountability Bureau, in Islamabad on May 9 sparked clashes between his supporters and security forces that left several dead. Scores more were arrested, including close aides and political associates of the former PM.
Police put the death toll in violent clashes to 10 while Khan's party claimed 40 of its workers lost their lives in the firing by security personnel.
Khan has been granted bail by the Islamabad High Court. On Wendesday, the court extended until May 31 its order to prevent the arrest of Khan.
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