ISLAMABAD: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Sunday arrested PTI leader Azam Swati over his controversial tweets against a state institution, reports said.
The PTI leader was taken into custody from his farmhouse located in Chak Shahzad, a suburb situated in Islamabad, by three-member FIA team, hours after his party staged a power-show in the neighboring city of Rawalpindi.
In his address, PTI Chairman Imran Khan announced to resign from all assemblies, in a latest push to his demand for fresh elections in the country.
The 74-year-old politician has been arrested for second time in more than a month as he secured post-arrest bail in controversial tweets case from a court in the capital city last month.
The FIA has registered a first information (FIR) report on the complaint of the state through Islamabad Cyber Crime Reporting Centre (CCRC) Technical Assistant Aneesur Rehman.
Meanwhile, PTI Chairman Imran Khan and other party leaders reacted strongly against the arrest of Senator Azam Swati.
Taking to Twitter, Imran Khan wrote: “I am shocked & appalled at how rapidly we are descending into not just a banana republic but a fascist state. How can anyone not understand the pain & suffering Senator Swati underwent with custodial torture & blackmailing video of him & his conservative wife sent to his family?”
“He is justifiable anger & frustration at the injustice meted out to him especially the doors of SC [Supreme Court] remaining closed to him despite over a fortnight of appeals by Senators in support of him. So he tweets & is arrested again,” he added while urging people to raise their voice against this state fascism.
PTI leader Shireen Mazari also termed the incident as an act of “fascism”, stating that Swati was arrested by FIA after he spoke at “Azadi March” in Rawalpindi yesterday.
“Senator Azam Swati arrested again by FIA after he spoke at our Azadi March where he asked some questions & spoke abt what hapened to him & his family. Is that a crime? Did the pussilanimous Senate Chairman again give his approval for this arrest? Fascism,” the tweet read.
Asad Umar also reacted to the arrest, saying: “The dignified manner in which azam swati conducted himself as he was arrested today shows he is fighting for a principle”.
“You can disagree with his choice of words or even his views, but you cannot disagree with him that whatever happens must do so within ambit of law,” the former planning minister said.
Read more: Lt Gen Faiz Hamid decides early retirement
