Amir Mir, the Punjab Caretaker Information Minister, declared that with Imran Khan’s consent and under public scrutiny, a search operation will be undertaken at the Zaman Park’s residence to arrest suspected “terrorists.”
While talking to Geo News’s program ‘Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Sath,’ Mir said, “To avert confrontation, we, the interim government, have resolved to dispatch a delegation to Khan under the oversight of the Lahore commissioner.”
Khan was given a 24-hour deadline by the minister to surrender the alleged “30-40 terrorists” at his Zaman Park home, which ended at 2 pm today.
Following a meeting led by Punjab Caretaker Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi, it was decided that the delegation would request an audience with Khan’s team post the Friday prayers.
Read: Imran Khan’s Residence Surrounded by Police Post Deadline Expiry
The delegation, joined by a 400-member police team, will request Khan’s permission to search, considering the alleged terrorist presence, Mir noted.
Although Khan had permitted a search at his home, he insisted on the law enforcers carrying legal search warrants.
Mir assured that if Khan denies permission for the search, the government will devise a new strategy. However, he affirmed their current commitment to a positive approach.
Responding to Khan’s suspicions about the police planting people at his home to frame them as terrorists, Mir dismissed these as unwarranted and assured that all actions would be performed transparently.
He admonished Khan’s unfounded fears as ludicrous, questioning the plausibility of planting 40 people at his home.
Mir also dispelled rumors about imminent plans to arrest Khan, advising him against spreading baseless narratives of the potential arrest.
“We do not intend to arrest Khan despite his clamor. Even if we don’t detain him, other authorities might. So he should refrain from speculating his arrest for now,” he warned.
Moments before his conversation with Khanzada, Mir reported the capture of eight terrorists fleeing Zaman Park.
Read: Imran Khan Shows No Opposition to COAS Asim Munir, Asserts President Alvi
“We have detained eight terrorists from Zaman Park. They are being interrogated about further details, including potential hideouts within the house.”
The minister attributed their successful capture to the 24-hour ultimatum and identified them as terrorists due to their involvement in the Lahore Corps Commander House.
“Information indicates that some individuals implicated in the attacks might be concealed in residences adjacent to Khan’s,” he said.
Journalists were allowed to access Khan’s residence freely from 2 pm.
Only Khan’s security guards were seen at the residence today. However, Malik reported that bullet-proof glasses had replaced protective measures such as barbed wires.
Malik noticed no party workers at the security checkpoints in Zaman Park, and the previously set up 30-40 tents outside Khan’s residence were absent. He added that 8-12 workers initially present at the Park were purportedly arrested by the police upon departure.
Presently, only security personnel are stationed at Khan’s residence, and no workers are to be seen, Malik confirmed.
During his interaction, Khan appeared open to dialogue, as per Malik’s observation.
