Security forces raid Imran Khan's party's central secretariat in Islamabad

ISLAMABAD: Amid Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan's sentence of 10 years in jail in a cypher case, police and security officials in civil dress allegedly raided and took control of the PTI's central secretariat in Islamabad, Dawn News reported.

The Pakistan-based news daily reported that the officials raided the premises just before a PTI's general body meeting and stopped members from entering the premises, warning them that they would have to face consequences.

The PTI general body, however, managed to hold a virtual meeting in which it decided to hold intra-party elections within a fortnight. An official of the capital police denied the allegation, pointing out that a raid could not be conducted without having permission from a magistrate and no such order was issued on Wednesday. Dawn News reported that Police official claimed that, on condition of anonymity, they went there for security. "[As] a judgement against Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi was announced, there was a possibility that a protest would be held there. Police did not enter the secretariat and remained outside."

At the online meeting, the PTI general body nominated Omar Ayub as chief organizer and empowered him to issue notifications for intra-party polls. It also nominated a new election commission, headed by Raoof Hasan as chief election commissioner, with one member from each province and Gilgit Baltistan. Noorul Haq from Sindh, Qazi Mohammad Anwer from KP, Walid Iqbal from Punjab, Mohammad Daud Khan from Balochistan, and Nasir Shah from GB have been nominated as members of the election commission from their respective provinces.

A party representative, requesting anonymity, said the general body meeting was planned to be held in Islamabad, all provincial capitals and GB, for which an arrangement was made to connect all stations through internet.

"However, in Islamabad, police along with people in civil dress reached the central secretariat, removed guards and took control of the secretariat. Staff was told to go out and a few of them, who wished to stay there, were restricted to their offices. Police officials threatened the PTI members, who were reaching there to attend the general body meeting, and told them not to take part in any political activity if they don't want to face consequences," he said.

"Later, members attended the meeting virtually." A 'crackdown' similar to the one in Islamabad was launched against the party in Quetta but the members swiftly changed the venue of the meeting and managed to attend it physically, according to him. Dawn News reported that the meeting was convened by Sibghatullah Virk in Islamabad, Sher Ali Arbab in KP, Ijaz Minhas in Punjab, Khurram Sher Zaman in Sindh and Salar Kakar in Balochistan, he said.

The general body decided that the PTI would hold polls to the satisfaction of the ECP and that Imran Khan would remain the party's chairman-for-life.