Pakistani police and supporters of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, clashed on Tuesday, outside his home in the eastern city of Lahore, over reports of his possible arrest, a government spokesman and witnesses said.
According to government spokesperson, Amir Mir, several hundreds of Khan supporters gathered outside his home after a police team from Islamabad arrived to arrest Khan in accordance with a court order.
He claimed that the violence was instigated by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) members, adding that “If Imran Khan assures his presence in the court, it will be good, otherwise, the law will take its course.”
Also speaking with reporters was the deputy Inspector General of Police, Syed Shahzad Nadeem, who said, “We have come here just for the compliance of the court order.”
According to him, the violence erupted when the workers began throwing stones and bricks at the police, and the latter responded by firing water cannons at them and, in some cases, charging at them with batons.
Live TV footage showed how Khan’s supporters were throwing bricks and sticks at the cops while also using slingshots.
Khan was accused of threatening a judge in one of his rallies last year, and the court in Islamabad had issued the arrest warrant in that case.
After being overthrown by the parliament in a vote of confidence at the beginning of last year, the former president has become involved in a number of legal disputes.
In protest marches around the country, Khan has been calling for immediate elections. His successor Shehbaz Sharif has rejected this demand, claiming the elections would take place later this year as scheduled.
At one of these rallies, Khan was shot and injured.
