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Imran arrested in Lahore

— Photo: AFP

TAKING THE LEAD: Cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan with university students in Lahore on Wednesday.

LAHORE: Assisted by students affiliated to the youth wing of the Jamat-i-Islami, police in this city captured Imran Khan, former cricketer and leader of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf, following a chaotic drama on the Punjab University campus where he emerged from hiding on Wednesday for the first time after escaping house arrest last week.

A police official told AFP that Mr. Khan was in police custody, and had been given a detention order. The official said the cricketer would be placed under house arrest. The government slapped the draconian Anti-Terrorism Act on Mr. Khan, PTI reports. Penalties under the Act include death sentence or life imprisonment, media said.

Mr. Khan was taken into custody by police at the gates of the campus after he was first locked up by students of the right wing Islami Jamiat-e-Taliba, which has a powerful presence in Punjab University.

Categorised as a religious organisation, it is the only campus union permitted in Pakistan since Zia ul Haq’s clampdown on student politics in the late 1970s, and used by him to finish off other unions. As the Imran Khan episode unfolded, IJT students declared they did not want politicians on campus, and would lead their own protests against the Emergency. They also said Mr. Khan had not taken permission from them to mobilise students on the campus.

The JI, whose leader Qazi Ahmed and Mr. Khan are close political allies, condemned its student wing, saying the organisation had committed a “mistake” and had stood on “ego and narrow interests” and said it would consider action against the IJT. The events of the day vitiated the atmosphere in the opposition camp, barely a day after opposition political parties seemed to be uniting against President Musharraf following Benazir Bhutto’s declared willingness to work together with them.

Ms. Bhutto, who for the first time demanded on Tuesday that Gen Musharraf stand down as President and Army chief, spoke to Mr. Khan and the JI chief besides PML (N) leader Nawaz Sharif, and Awami National Party leader Asfandyar Wali Khan.

But the dramatic arrest of Mr. Khan fuelled suspicions about the JI’s loyalties, and put the spotlight once again on its historical alignment with military rulers.

Mr. Khan, who went underground after escaping house arrest following the November 3 imposition of emergency, announced on Tuesday that he would lead a rally at Punjab University on Wednesday morning.

Hundreds of policemen in riot gear waited at the gates of the university, while inside IJT students gathered for their own protest against Gen. Musharraf and said they would not allow Mr. Khan in at any cost.

As rumours flew that the former cricketer was already present at the university, the IJT students took out their own rally through the leafy campus. A roar went up in the crowd as Mr. Khan, in a crisp white salwar kameez, appeared suddenly. Some supporters in the crowd managed to lift him on their shoulders. But it was all too brief.

Students of the IJT — there were reports that plainclothesmen were among them — closed in on Mr. Khan, who tried to fight his way out of the crowd. But he was quickly headed off and hustled into a department building, and the doors locked down.

“We have kept him here for his own safety, because there were many plainclothesmen from the police and intelligence services out to arrest him on this campus. We will soon allow him to leave,” said one student.

He said there was no place for politicians on campus. But JI spokesman Amir-ul-Azeem, also a politician, expressed helplessness at the students’ actions.

After about 30 minutes of chaotic scenes between pro- and anti-Imran students, a white van backed up to the building. A student who climbed on it shouting “Imran Khan Zindabad” was pushed off quickly. Mr. Khan then came out in a tight ring of escorts who thrust him into the van. “It happened so quickly that we could not control them. The students have committed a big mistake today. They will realise it later. Qazi Hussain Ahmed and Imran Khan, they are as one. But the students have strengthened Musharraf. They have done it for their ego,” said Mr. Azeem.

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