*Case registered against PTI chief for forcing policemen to release arrested PTI workers
A case was lodged against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan at Islamabad’s Bani Gala Police Station “for intimidating and obstructing public servants from performing their official duties” after the party chief forcibly got released arrested PTI workers from a police van on Sunday night.
Confirming the registration of the case, Islamabad Police spokesperson Naeem Ahmed said that the party activists had been arrested for violating Section 144 – pertaining to unlawful assembly. He added that arrests over violation of Section 144, which is currently imposed in Islamabad, would continue.
Early on Monday, 1,500 policemen laid siege to Khan’s Bani Gala residence on orders of Islamabad Police Inspector General Tahir Alam.
Later, the policemen were called off on the orders of the Interior Ministry.
On Sunday night, Khan had his car overtake, block the passage of, and stop a police prisoner van outside Lake View Park after which he, along with his supporters, coerced the police into setting free at least 15 arrested PTI workers.
Khan reportedly took the workers to his residence and later shifted them to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa House.
A PTI spokesperson said that police had “unlawfully” and “without any reason” arrested 15 party workers who were being taken to Bani Gala Police Station when they saw Khan and screamed for help, following which Khan got them released.