Imran weighs options as police, FC surround Bani Gala residence

ISLAMABAD: PTI chief Imran Khan weighed his options to thwart attempts by police and FC to stop him from addressing a political rally with Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed on Friday.

Sources disclosed that due to the presence of police and FC personnel outside his residence, the PTI chairman is considering traveling outside via a helicopter. The helicopter of a private company had also been booked for the PTI chief.

It was also learnt from sources that Imran called an important meeting of his party's leaders in Bani Gala during which it was deliberated on how the party chairman could evade a potential house arrest. Imran issued directives for all party leaders and workers to reach Bani Gala on Friday. It was decided during the meeting that if police decided to place the PTI chairman under house arrest, Imran Khan would come out of his Bani Fala residence with the protocol of his party workers. 

It was also learnt from sources that PTI leader Shah Farman had been tasked by Imran to arrive at Bani Gala on Friday with a large number of workers and supporters. Party leaders who had attended the meeting had decided to stay in Bani Gala for the night. 

The political climate in the federal capital has started to heat up ahead of PTI's 'Islamabad Lockdown' protest. On Thursday, police issued a crackdown against Insaf Students Federation workers who had gathered in Islamabad for a small protest. Video footage showed police baton-charging and indulging in a verbal spat with party vice-chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi, who was demanding an explanation regarding the arrest of the ISF workers. 

As many as six buses of police and Frontier Corps were deployed outside Imran Khan's residence in Bani Gala in the wee hours of Friday. Imran Khan and Sheikh Rasheed Khan are scheduled to address a political rally in Rawalpindi, as their movement against the PML-N government gains momentum ahead of their planned 'Islamabad Lockdown'.  

PTI chief Imran Khan is inside his Bani Gala residence at the moment. Outside, police have already started to close all entry routes to the place by placing containers. Meanwhile, containers were also placed outside the residence of AML chief Sheikh Rasheed Ahmad, who is a strong opponent of the government and a close ally of Imran Khan.  According to sources, police officials have been tasked to prevent any Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf worker from entering Khan's residence. 

In what is being termed by some sources as placing the two leaders under house arrest, the Islamabad district administration has however clarified that so far orders to place the PTI chief under house arrest have not been received. The district administration has clarified that the security has been placed due to security reasons.