Pakistan: Imran Khan's supporters still mobilized in front of his residence

Supporters of Imran Kahn, and his party, the PTI, not far from the residence of the former Pakistani Prime Minister, in Lahore, on March 16. REUTERS - AKHTAR SOOMRO

Text by: RFI Follow

2 min

PTI activists are mobilized outside Imran Khan's residence in Lahore, eastern Pakistan. 48 hours ago, police tried to approach the former prime minister's residence to arrest him in connection with a corruption case, but hundreds of protesters form a human shield outside his home. The Lahore High Court had suspended the police operation on Wednesday, March 15, until this morning, then decided to extend the suspension until tomorrow.

Advertising

Read more

With our special envoy in Lahore, Sonia Ghezali

The situation is calm. Nearly 200 riot police are stationed 500 meters from the residence of the former prime minister, shield and stick in hand, but no intervention is planned today. Hundreds of PTI activists are still mobilized in front of Imran Khan's home, PTI flag in his hands. Several are armed with thick sticks and slingshots, ready to fight with the police if they attempt a new arrest.

« We don't trust this government »

Some of them, who came from far away, told us that they had been there for several days and had no intention of leaving. "We don't trust this government," an activist who came from the west of the country to protect Imran Khan told us.

Inside his home, Imran Khan received journalists all day. Looking relaxed and serene, he let us know that he would not surrender to the police. "They want to arrest me to prevent me from campaigning, because they know I will win the elections to be held in October," he said.

It remains to be seen whether the police will try to arrest Imran Khan tomorrow or whether the courts will suspend the operation of the security forces again.

► Read also Pakistan: the police fails to arrest the former Prime Minister Imran Khan after clashes

Newsletter Receive all the international news directly in your mailbox

I subscribe

Follow all the international news by downloading the RFI application

Read on on the same topics:

  • Pakistan
  • Imran Khan