Use of Gilgit-Baltistan force to stop Imran Khan’s arrest: Maryam Aurangzeb

Islamabad: Pakistan’s Information Minister Maryam Aurangzeb said on Wednesday that the ‘Gilgit-Baltistan force’ was being used against the Punjab Police to prevent the arrest of Imran Khan. Maryam Aurangzeb said this while addressing the media in Islamabad. Earlier, the Lahore High Court ordered the police to stop its operation outside the Zaman Park residence of Imran Khan in Lahore till Thursday to arrest him in the Toshakhana case.

Additional District and Sessions Judge Zafar Iqbal had issued an arrest warrant against Imran Khan on March 13 and directed the police to produce him before the court on March 18. According to the report, Maryam Aurangzeb said that a Gilgit-Baltistan force was being used to attack the Punjab Police. He said that the law enforcement officers were unarmed during this operation. Meanwhile, justifying Aurangzeb’s statement, the Pakistan government on Wednesday transferred Inspector General of Police of Gilgit-Baltistan Muhammad Saeed.

Imran Khan’s party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) is in control of the so-called Gilgit-Baltistan. Maryam Aurangzeb accused Imran Khan of spreading unrest and anarchy in the country. They claimed that Khan used women and children as human shields in clashes with the police.
Khan (70) is accused of buying gifts received by him when he was prime minister from Toshakhana at throwaway prices and selling them for profit.

The Toshakhana, established in the year 1974, is a department under the administrative control of the Cabinet Division and stores precious gifts given to rulers, parliamentarians, bureaucrats and officials by foreign dignitaries and heads of other governments and states.