Pakistani police known as off a two-day operation to arrest former Prime Minister Imran Khan after violent clashes delayed them and a court docket ordered a halt so {that a} cricket match might begin.
“We won’t afford to danger the safety and security of the Pakistan Tremendous League (PSL),” a senior police official informed the Reuters information company, clarifying that the operation would resume following the completion of the cricket match.
The Lahore Excessive Court docket additionally ordered police to pause the operation pending the results of a listening to on the legitimacy of the arrest warrant after police and 70-year-old Khan’s supporters clashed exterior his residence, the BBC reported.
Supporters of Khan’s celebration, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), protested in opposition to Khan’s arrest, which the previous prime minister insisted was pointless since he had agreed to indicate up in court docket on Mar. 18, however police refused to simply accept the signed surety bond and tried to arrest him anyway.
A decrease court docket had issued a warrant for his arrest for defying orders to current himself over fees that he unlawfully offered state items given to him by overseas dignitaries throughout his time in workplace.
Supporters of former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan block a highway close to Khan’s residence to forestall officers from arresting him in Lahore, Pakistan, on March 15, 2023. (Aamir Qureshi / AFP by way of Getty Photos)
The items included seven watches, with one valued at round $300,000, in addition to perfumes, diamond jewellery and dinner units, based on a listing shared by Data Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb final yr.
Pakistani safety forces conflict with supporters of former Prime Minister Imran Khan exterior his residence to forestall his potential arrest in Lahore, Pakistan, on March 15, 2023. (Rana Irfan Ali / Anadolu Company by way of Getty Photos)
The nation’s parliament ousted him from workplace by a no-confidence vote over the allegations, and he maintains the case is politically motivated. He denies any wrongdoing.
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“Whether or not I’m in jail or not, they will be unable to cease my celebration successful,” Khan beforehand informed the BBC.
Since then, he has held nationwide protest rallies to demand a snap election, throughout certainly one of which he was shot and wounded.
Police tried to take Khan by drive, however his supporters stood their floor and clashed with police over a two-day interval earlier than the choice to pause for the PSL cricket match.
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“Because the groups have to achieve the stadium just a few hours earlier than the match and the routes should be cleared out, the safety personnel at Zaman Park have stepped again for a short time,” an unnamed senior police official informed Al Jazeera.
Pakistani safety forces conflict with supporters of former Prime Minister Imran Khan exterior his residence to forestall his potential arrest in Lahore, Pakistan, on March 15, 2023. (Rana Irfan Ali / Anadolu Company by way of Getty Photos)
Gaddafi Stadium, which hosts the match between the Lahore Qalandars and the Multan Sultans, is greater than 5 miles from Khan’s residence.
Pakistani safety forces conflict with supporters of former Prime Minister Imran Khan exterior his residence to forestall his potential arrest in Lahore, Pakistan, on March 15, 2023. (Rana Irfan Ali / Anadolu Company by way of Getty Photos)
Khan appeared exterior and spoke to his supporters, and his celebration wrote on Twitter that the “folks” had pushed again the police who have been “despatched to hurt Imran Khan.”
Cricket stays the preferred sport within the nation, attracting worldwide gamers to the nation. The game usually finds itself snarled with politics.
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Khan himself loved an illustrious profession as a cricket skilled, enjoying as a bowler for Pakistan the place he earned the third all-time take a look at bowling rating through the Nineteen Eighties.
Reuters contributed to this report.