ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah on Friday hinted at the arrest of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Chairman and former prime minister Imran Khan on or any day after May 17.

Commenting on the Islamabad High Court’s decision which granted a two-week protective bail to the former prime minister in the Al-Qadir Trust case and banned his arrest in any other case till May 17, he said that if the court gave Mr Khan protective bail beyond that period, then he would not be arrested at all.

Talking to private TV channels, the interior minister said that the court orders would be implemented and the PTI leader would not be arrested till May 17, adding that the senior officers had been told to take instructions from the advocate general on the issue.

“If there is a reason for his arrest, then he will be arrested,” Mr Sanaullah said, adding that what the PTI did over the last two to three days was intolerable.

Says CJP’s words for PTI chief unbecoming of his stature

“The courts can facilitate them, but as per the law, we will take action against their anti-state and terror activities,” the interior minister said.

Referring to the Supreme Court’s verdict that released Mr Khan and termed his arrest illegal, he said that whatever had happened till now was “unprecedented”.

He said the facilitation being provided to this “ladla (blue-eyed boy)” should then be provided to everyone.

“There is no example of such judicial decisions and means of facilitation are being invented,” the interior minister said.

When asked if the former prime minister would be arrested as PTI workers were involved in vandalising an important installation in Lahore, Mr Sanaullah said: “We have all the evidence from every single day, we have his speeches. The cases have been filed and they are still being filed.”

He said the cabinet had condemned yesterday’s remarks in the Supreme Court and how he had been welcomed after embezzling the huge amount of money.

Mr Sanaullah said there was no proposal to ban the PTI and similarly there was no proposal under consideration of the government to impose an emergency in the country.

The interior minister criticised the chief justice of Pakistan over his exchange of greetings with Mr Khan, who he said had been charged with corruption of Rs60 billion.

He said that remarks made by the CJP were not befitting of his esteemed position, adding that such conversation had put a shadow of partiality over the court’s authority, raising questions about the integrity and fairness of the judiciary.

The interior minister stressed the need for identifying and addressing what he called the ‘fitna’, arguing that failure to do so would plunge the country into anarchy.

He also accused Mr Khan of intentionally destabilising the nation and fostering an atmosphere of chaos and disorder.

Published in Dawn, May 13th, 2023