Pakistan’s Information Minister has accused Imran Khan of “uttering blatant lies” and denied the makes an attempt to arrest him are politically motivated.
In an unique interview with Sky News, Marriyum Aurangzeb insisted that “the government has nothing to do with the arrest. The arrest has nothing to do with the delay in the elections”.
The police, she declared, had been merely “complying with the order of the court to arrest him in corruption cases”.
It follows a tense stand-off between police and Mr Khan’s supporters outdoors his residence within the jap metropolis of Lahore.
Supporters of the former prime minister threw bricks at police who fought again with tear gasoline and rubber bullets for a second day after officers tried to arrest the ousted chief.
Mr Khan is accused of misusing state items and faces an enormous variety of corruption circumstances. He denies any wrongdoing.
Today, he insisted he was able to journey to Islamabad on 18 March to seem in court docket, however that was not initially accepted by the authorities.
Mrs Aurangzeb mentioned it was essential that he solutions to the court docket.
“He needs to be arrested as court has ordered and he has to comply with the court orders,” she mentioned.
“The police are there to arrest him. If he has anything to say in his defence, he has to say it in front of the court.”
The Information Minister rejected claims the police had injured Mr Khan’s supporters and as an alternative said that 65 law enforcement officials had been damage because of the clashes.
She additionally dismissed Mr Khan’s declare that his safety was in danger – he has constantly argued that showing in court docket might compromise his security following an assassination try.
“The guy says he has security threats and…in the same breath, Mr Khan says he’s ready to hold political rallies. He’s out there,” Mrs Aurangzeb mentioned.
“The moment the court asks him to be there for his corruption cases, he says I have a security threat.
“So he has to stay to at least one factor after which when he has safety threats, on the similar time he is inciting violence and he is placing ladies and youngsters in entrance of the police drive who’re there simply to arrest him.”
A supporter of the previous prime minister throws stones at police in Lahore
Read extra on Sky News:
Operation to arrest Khan halted after violence
As this authorized battle between Mr Khan and the state rages, the nation faces political and financial paralysis.
This stalemate is just including to that mess and making a tinder field second in an already febrile environment.
Source: information.sky.com”
