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Pakistan Police will conduct a thorough search of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan’s Zaman Park residence on Saturday.
A four-member delegation of the Punjab police has arrived to hold negotiations with him for conducting a search operation. It has also obtained a search warrant, reports Dawn.
Under the supervision of the superintendent of police, a team of officials, including female officers, will carry out the search operation.
As per the statement, the search will encompass a thorough examination of both the entrance and exit points of the residence.
Earlier, Punjab interim Information Minister Amir Mir had claimed that nearly 30 to 40 people — whom the government has called “terrorists” — have been holed up inside Imran’s house.
'No dialogue' with Pakistan army after unrest
The former prime minister Imran Khan says he has had "no dialogue" with Pakistan's military since his campaign of defiance against the nation's powerful generals boiled over into deadly unrest last week.
The opposition leader's comments in an interview with AFP underscore the full-scale breakdown of relations between the country's most popular politician and the army, which directly ruled Pakistan for more than three decades and remains hugely powerful behind the scenes.
"The current army chief clearly has some problems with me," Khan said inside his Lahore home late Thursday. "I don't know what will happen in the future, but right now there's no dialogue."
Hours after repeating accusations that a top intelligence officer was involved in a November attempt on his life, 70-year-old Khan was last week swarmed by paramilitary troops and arrested on graft charges.
Days of civil unrest followed -- with government buildings set alight, military installations damaged and at least nine people killed -- before the Supreme Court declared the arrest illegal.
The former cricket star said the government led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is "scared" to face his party in general elections due no later than October.
"Our party has been facing a crackdown really for one year," said Khan, seeming tired but resolved, sitting between the twin draped flags of Pakistan and PTI.
"I was removed from power through this conspiracy by the ex-army chief."
Military support has historically been a cornerstone of stable governments in Islamabad, although the institution denies involvement in politics.
The growing chasm between Khan and the generals complicates his campaign to return to office and pits his legions of followers against the men in control of the world's sixth-largest army.
'Who isn't condemning?'
Imran Khan on Thursday said everyone is condemning the attack on army installations and demanded a probe into it.
At his maiden press conference following his arrest that provoked countrywide riots, when asked if he condemned the attack on the Corps Commander House in Lahore, he replied: “Who is not condemning the burning of the Lahore Corps Commander House? Tell me one person in Pakistan who is not doing it.”
ALSO READ - Pakistan president asks Imran to condemn May 9 violence
“The burning of that old building, it is being blamed on us on purpose […] In 27 years, have I ever said to turn to burning and rioting? I have always talked about peaceful protests within the law and the Constitution,” he added.
As authorities cranked up the crackdown on PTI in the wake of the violence that took place on May 9, the former prime minister said his party had got “no conflict” with the establishment and that PDM wanted to eliminate PTI from mainstream politics by pitting the army against the opposition party.
The former premier said he was not holding any dialogue with anyone because he had made it clear that “talks will be held on the issue of elections only, nothing else”.
“I have no conflict with the other side (establishment), but I do not know why they are annoyed with me,” the PTI chairman said in response to a question.
He reiterated his allegations that PDM was conspiring to eliminate PTI with the help of the military and said this move was dangerous for the country as it may result in the same circumstances which resulted in the dismemberment of Pakistan in 1971. “If anyone fights against its army, the country will be defeated,” he said.
The former premier also talked about desertions within his party and sympathised with the leaders who quit the PTI “under pressure” in the wake of the crackdown.
Malik Amin Aslam was the latest to bid adieu to Imran’s party on Thursday. Khan said he was not sure if he would accept these leaders back into the party fold.
However, the PTI chairman commended the party leaders who remained steadfast and said the “nation will remember them for not bowing to pressure tactics”. “When I am not deterred by two assassination attempts, I will not give any consideration to any pressure tactics and keep on standing for the cause of Haqeeqi Azadi even if left alone,” he declared.
Khan demanded a thorough probe by an independent commission into the riots that took place on May 9.
