ISLAMABAD: As Imran Khan’s supporters blocked Pakistan police from arresting him from his Lahore home, the former Pakistan prime minister put out a video message in which he appealed to the people to fight for their rights even if he is jailed or killed.
Addressing his countrymen, Khan said, “The police have arrived to arrest me. They think that if Imran Khan goes to jail, the people will go to sleep. You have to prove them wrong, you have to prove that the qaum (people) is alive.”
“You have to fight for your rights, you have to hit the streets. God has given Imran Khan everything. I am fighting your battle. I have fought all my life and will continue to do so. But if something happens to me, they put me in jail or kill me, you have to prove that you can fight even without Imran Khan. You have to prove that you will never accept this slavery and this rule by one man. Pakistan zindabad,” he said.
After a police team reached to arrest Imran Khan scours of the former PMs supporters blocked the way.
Mr Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) workers started the violence, which injured several police officials, government spokesman Amir Mir said, adding, “If Imran Khan ensures his presence in the court, it will be good, otherwise the law will take its course.”
“We have come here just for the compliance of the court order,” Deputy Inspector General of Police Syed Shahzad Nadeem told reporters. The PTI workers started throwing stones and bricks at the police, and in response the police directed water-cannon at them and in some cases baton charged them, he said.
The 70-year-old politician, also a cricket legend, is wanted in the Toshakhana corruption case. Pakistan’s election commission in October last year found him guilty of unlawfully selling gifts from foreign dignitaries.