Lahore, Pakistan – In a significant development, a senior Punjab government official announced today that the Punjab police will be dispatching a delegation to search the residence of former Prime Minister Imran Khan in Lahore. The search operation, scheduled for tomorrow, aims to apprehend alleged “terrorists” believed to be hiding inside Khan’s house. The delegation, led by the commissioner of Lahore, will coordinate with Imran Khan to conduct a thorough search, ensuring transparency by having the process recorded on camera, according to Punjab Caretaker Information Minister Amir Mir.
Speaking in an interview with Geo News, Minister Mir emphasized that nearly 400 police officers would accompany the delegation to apprehend the suspected terrorists within the premises. This action comes as Imran Khan, the leader of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, failed to meet the interim government’s deadline for surrendering the individuals allegedly present in his Zaman Park residence.
“We have decided that instead of resorting to confrontation, we will send a delegation to Khan Sahab under the supervision of the Lahore commissioner,” stated Minister Mir, indicating the government’s intention to handle the situation diplomatically. The Punjab Caretaker Chief Minister, Mohsin Naqvi, chaired a meeting where it was decided that the delegation would request an appointment with Khan’s team and meet him after Friday prayers.
Elaborating on the planned search operation, Minister Mir explained, “They will ask him (Khan) to allow them to conduct a search operation. A police party, consisting of 400 personnel, will accompany the delegation due to the reported presence of terrorists.” Khan had previously urged law enforcement agencies to carry valid search warrants if conducting an operation at his residence.
In a recent development, Minister Mir disclosed that eight suspected terrorists were apprehended while attempting to flee from Zaman Park, reinforcing the belief that individuals connected to the attacks on Lahore Corps Commander House may be hiding in the vicinity of Khan’s residence. The ongoing investigation of the detained suspects aims to gather crucial information about the alleged terrorists and their potential association with the events of May 9, when violent protests erupted following Imran Khan’s arrest. The protesters targeted several military installations, including the Jinnah House, Mianwali airbase, ISI building in Faisalabad, and even the Army headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi, marking an unprecedented escalation in tensions.
The Punjab police’s forthcoming search operation at Imran Khan’s house seeks to address the concerns raised by the interim government and shed light on the alleged presence of terrorists. As the situation unfolds, all eyes will be on Lahore to witness the outcome of this highly anticipated operation.