Imran Khan's House Gheraoed By Punjab Police Suspecting Presence Of '40 Terrorists'

The interim government of Punjab staged a demonstration outside former Prime Minister Imran Khan's residence in Zaman Park, Lahore on Wednesday, suspecting that 30-40 terrorists had sought refuge there. Police reportedly issued a 24-hour ultimatum to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, demanding the surrender of the alleged terrorists.

During a press conference in Lahore, the Caretaker Information Minister, Aamir Mir, emphasized that PTI must hand over the suspected terrorists, warning that legal action would be taken if they failed to comply. Mir referred to the protesters on May 9 as "terrorists" and claimed that the government possessed credible intelligence reports confirming their presence at Khan's residence in Zaman Park.

Mir stated that the recently received intelligence report was highly concerning. He further mentioned that the authorities were able to confirm the presence of these individuals through the use of geo-fencing technology, which tracks and limits movements using satellite signals.

Recalling the recent violent protests that erupted after Imran Khan's arrest, Mir alleged that the PTI leadership had planned the attack prior to Khan's detention. The arrest of Khan, which took place on May 9 at the Islamabad High Court, led to unrest in Pakistan.

During the subsequent clashes, protesters breached the walls of the army headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi and set fire to the Corps Commander's house in Lahore, marking unprecedented events in Pakistan's history. The police reported a death toll of 10 in the violent clashes, while Khan's party claimed that 40 of its members were killed by security forces.

Mir further accused Imran Khan of targeting the military for more than a year as part of a premeditated strategy. He stated that the government had adopted a "zero tolerance policy" towards violence and that the interim Chief Minister, Mohsin Naqvi, had authorized the Punjab Police to take decisive action against arsonists.

The situation remains tense as the interim government demands the surrender of the alleged terrorists while the PTI denies the accusations. The authorities are closely monitoring the events, and further developments are expected to unfold in the coming days.