When a heavy contingent of Punjab and Islamabad police reached the entrance gate of Zaman Park, the officers and personnel of the Gilgit-Baltistan Police pointed their guns at them, after which they moved back to save their lives, she added.
During the operation jointly conducted by Islamabad and Punjab police, there were fierce clashes between the police and PTI workers, in which many police officials, including the DIG Islamabad, were injured. The party workers, armed with wooden sticks, pelted stones at police personnel who were there to execute the arrest warrant for Imran Khan issued by the Islamabad court in the Toshakhana case. Upon which, the police fired tear gas shells and baton-charged the party workers to disperse them.
However, the operation has been ongoing since yesterday, but the police are still unable to arrest Imran Khan as he is using the party workers as a human shield.
The Punjab caretaker government met in an emergency session in the early hours of Wednesday (today) to reiterate their resolve that they will arrest Khan to fulfill court orders. Punjab caretaker chief minister Mohsin Naqvi has declared his support for policemen who were injured in attacks by PTI supporters, but sources claim that the caretaker government as well as Punjab police were hesitant to use ‘full force’ to prevent any needless deaths—in reference to the death of PTI supporter Ali Bilal on March 8.
In the morning hours of Wednesday (today), Imran Khan tweeted that paramilitary Punjab Rangers troops were “taking over” security duties from police stationed outside Zaman Park, and claimed that his supporters had earlier faced live ammunition as well as rubber bullets.