ISLAMABAD
\nAs members of the former PTI government confirmed Imran Khan\u2019s plans to return to Islamabad for a core committee meeting, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah on Sunday \u2018welcomed\u2019 him, saying the police personnel protecting the former prime minister would arrest him \u201cwith great enthusiasm\u201d once his pre-arrest bail expires.
\nFormer interior minister Sheikh Rasheed told to reporters that the former prime minister was planning to chair the core committee meeting at Bani Gala. Another aide, Shahbaz Gill told reporters outside Bani Gala that Imran was on his way and that the meeting would be held shortly.
\nFormer information minister Fawad Chaudhry, said in a tweet that members of the core committee had begun arriving at Bani Gala.
\nThe PTI chief had remained in Peshawar instead of his Bani Gala residence ever since he began his party\u2019s \u2018Haqeeqi Azadi March\u2019 on May 25, in which police clashed with party workers amid reports of sporadic violence. Imran returned to Peshawar since the march abruptly ended the following day.
\nThe day the marchers disbanded, Imran and other top PTI leaders were booked in a number of cases at multiple police stations across Islamabad over allegations of arson and vandalism. He received pre-arrest bail until June 25 from the Peshawar High Court, which instructed him to appear before the Islamabad sessions court before the expiry of his pre-arrest bail.
\nLate Saturday night, the Islamabad Police said that in the view of Imran\u2019s \u201cexpected arrival\u201d, security around Bani Gala has been strengthened and placed on high alert. But they said nothing official had been announced with regard to Imran\u2019s return.
\n\u201cHowever, until now Islamabad Police has not received any confirmed news of return from Imran Khan\u2019s team,\u201d the Islamabad police tweeted.
\n\u201cSecurity Division has deployed dedicated security in Bani Gala. List of people in Bani Gala not provided yet to Police. Section 144 is imposed in Islamabad and any congregation is not allowed as per orders of District Magistrate,\u201d it further stated.
\nThe police added that Imran would be provided complete security as per the law and \u201creciprocal cooperation is expected from security teams of Imran Khan as well\u201d.
\nMeanwhile, there were media reports that the PTI\u2019s core committee meeting would be held at Bani Gala. Former interior minister Sheikh Rashid confirmed that the former prime minister is planning to chair the meeting.
\nAddressing Imran\u2019s possible return, Sanaullah \u201cwelcomed\u201d him and said as per the law, he was being provided security. However, he said that \u201csame security\u201d would arrest the PTI chairman with \u201cgreat enthusiasm\u201d as soon as his pre-arrest bail expires.
\n\u201cImran Niazi has been named in more than two dozen cases registered across the country under charges of rioting, sedition, spreading chaos and armed attacks on the federation,\u201d he tweeted.
\n\u201cA person who spreads chaos in the country on a daily basis, who has complete disregard for moral and democratic values and who sometimes calls his opponents traitors and Yazidis, how can he be the head of a political party in a democratic society?\u201d the minister went on, adding that this was the \u201cmoment of reflection\u201d for the nation.
\nLater, PTI leader Shahbaz Gill told journalists outside Bani Gala that the party had arranged its own security for Imran given the statements passed by Rana Sanaullah.
\n\u201cThe entire nation is standing with Imran Khan. They will protect Imran Khan and Imran Khan will protect them,\u201d he said. Referring to talk of the PTI chief\u2019s arrest, Gill added that the party would reply in due time. \u201cThe entire nation will respond then.\u201d
\nMeanwhile, ahead of Imran\u2019s arrival, a number of PTI supporters gathered outside Bani Gala.
\nIn response to a question, one of them said that they were members of the Insaf Students\u2019 Federation and were unarmed.
\nAnother supporter said that the party will announce a \u201cplan of action\u201d once and if Sanaullah orders Imran\u2019s arrest.
\nThe supporters refused to provide any details on the number of party workers present inside.
\nAnother supporter said that the party will announce a \u201cplan of action\u201d once and if Sanaullah orders Imran\u2019s arrest.
\nFawad Chaudhry said in a tweet that the participants will review the political and economic situation in the country and decide what should be done in the coming days.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
ISLAMABAD As members of the former PTI government confirmed Imran Khan\u2019s plans to return to Islamabad for a core committee meeting, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah on Sunday \u2018welcomed\u2019 him, saying the police personnel protecting the former prime minister would arrest him \u201cwith great enthusiasm\u201d once his pre-arrest bail expires. Former interior minister Sheikh Rasheed told […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":262613,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[8172,2833,6587,1446],"class_list":{"0":"post-264686","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-top-news","8":"tag-bani-gala","9":"tag-imran-khan","10":"tag-pti-leaders","11":"tag-rana-sanaullah"},"yoast_head":"\n