ISLAMABAD: In a change of plan, Rangers arrested former prime minister Imran Khan from the premises of Islamabad High Court (IHC) even though the task had earlier been given to the capital police, Dawn has learnt.

After the arrest, protests erupted all over Islamabad which resulted in law and order situation and road blockades.

Police officers told Dawn that earlier the quarters concerned had tasked the police with arresting Imran during his appearance in the high court in connection with separate cases.

In response, a plan was chalked out in which it was decided that he would be arrested at the main entrance in connection with a NAB case.

However, the police were later told to take him into custody from inside the court building, the officers said.

Former prime minister brought to NAB building in G-6, likely to be shifted to safe place, say police officers

The senior command agreed with the directions, but the supervisory officers, who were assigned the task of the arrest, opposed saying the police would pay the cost if the arrest was made from inside the premises.

Arrangements were also made to detain Mr Khan either at the Secretariat police station, Counter-Terrorism Department or Criminal Intelligence Agency building, the officers said, adding that the Secretariat police station was the first choice to detain the PTI chief as it was the safest being located inside the Red Zone.

The police and the Frontier Constabulary were deployed in and around the high court and other security measures were also put in place, they said. Besides, a contingent of Rangers was deployed at the court who later took charge of the security measures.

A number of sports utility vehicles (SUVs), including Vigos installed with antennas and jammers, were also brought to the high court and parked on Service Road South G-10/1, the officers said, adding that the teams of Rangers swarmed towards the diary branch when Mr Khan, accompanied by his counsel, and some PTI leaders entered the premises for biometrics.

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The personnel broke the window with batons and asked the staff inside to open the door as it was locked from inside.

Later, they entered the room and arrested Mr Khan, took him towards an SUV and bundled him inside. A number of personnel also embarked on the vehicle and some stood on the footers along the doors.

The vehicle came out of the gate on the Service Road and moved to an undisclosed location. Hours later, he was brought to the NAB building in G-6.

It was being considered to shift the PTI leader to a safe installation instead of keeping him at the NAB building, the officers added.

One of Mr Khan’s guards talking to the media said he was a retired SSG personnel and those who arrested the former prime minister were trained soldiers, not Rangers personnel.

Some of the PTI leaders managed to leave the court premises to avoid arrest, but a few, including Fawad Chaudhry, remained there and went inside a courtroom to avoid arrest.

After the development, PTI workers and activists poured onto different roads and highways in the capital and Srinagar Highway and Islamabad Expressway at different points.

About 250 people gathered at G-9 Chowk and set fire outside the PWD office and damaged a police picket.

Another gathering also blocked G.T. Road at Rawat while over 250 people assembled at Rawat Bazaar and set tyres on fire and chanted slogans against the arrest of their leader.

Moreover, about 230 people blocked G.T. Road at Chungi No 26. The expressway was also blocked at 111 stop by around 300 protesters.

Protests were also held at Faizabad where PTI supporters set tyres on fire and damaged public property, the officers said, adding over 70 protesters were detained from different parts of the capital. They included a PTI lawmaker who was also brought to the Secretariat police station.

Published in Dawn, May 10th, 2023