Security forces deployed at former Pakistani Prime Minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) party chief Imran Khans Zaman Park residence in Lahore are being pulled back, a senior police official said, after the Lahore High Court ordered a stay on operations.
The forces were said to be withdrawing in order to allow a Pakistan Super League (PSL) match scheduled in the city.
Lahores Gaddafi Stadium, located roughly 10km from Khan’s Zaman Park neighbourhood, will host a PSL match between Lahore Qalandars and Multan Sultan at 7pm on Wednesday.
After law enforcement agencies pulled back from former Pakistan PM Imran Khan’s residence in Lahore on Wednesday, PTI supporters outside Zaman Park cheered and celebrated ‘chasing Rangers away’.
Earlier in the morning, the police and Rangers, part of an elite security force in Pakistan, continued efforts to arrest the PTI chief in connection with the Toshakhana case. However, they were met with strong resistance from PTI workers. The law enforcement personnel retreated after party supporters pelted stones at them.
Khan said on Wednesday he would heed a court summons, as his supporters continued to clash with security forces, in a case against him related to alleged selling of state gifts in the open market.
Pakistani police and supporters of Khan, along with his party workers, had got into a battle outside the former Prime Minister’s home in the eastern city of Lahore, injuring several on both sides, ahead of his possible arrest, a government spokesman and witnesses said.
The police lobbed teargas shells near his residence and used the baton on supporters in the skirmishes.
Khan on Tuesday evening posted a video message calling on his backers to continue to challenge the ruling Shehbaz Sharif government, even if he were to be jailed.
Khan called on his supporters to stand up for the supremacy of law and fight for true independence.
‘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.’
Government spokesman Amir Mir told new agency Reuters ‘If Imran Khan ensures his presence in the court, it will be good, otherwise the law will take its course.’
Khan’s party workers are alleged to have started the violence, which injured several police officials,
The paramilitary forces were brought in to control the situation.
Several of Khan’s supporters were injured when the police resorted to teargas shelling, witnesses said, as clashes have taken place over the last few weeks.
This article has been updated.