Arrest spree stepped up as PTI’s nationwide violent protests continue to intensify

May 11, 2023

LAHORE: As the protests turned violent across the country after the arrest of PTI Chairman Imran Khan in Al-Qadir Trust case, the Shehbaz-led government has tightened noose around the PTI leaders and activists, arresting key leaders including women till the crack of dawn.

Since Imran Khan’s arrest, angry mobs attacked several public and private properties including army owned buildings, torched vehicles and injured several law enforcers.

On the other hand, violent clashes left seven civilians dead and a score of others wounded. There were reports of gunfire between the law enforcers and the protesters.

PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi was the latest leader who was taken into custody by police in Islamabad on late Wednesday night, Dunya News reported.

Former Pakistan foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi was arrested from Gilgit Baltistan House in Islamabad hours after PTI chief Imran Khan — whose arrest Tuesday sparked violent clashes and riots in that country — was remanded to the custody of a Pakistani anti-corruption agency for eight days in connection with the Al-Qadir Trust case.

Qureshi’s arrest was part of the anti-corruption agency’s ‘crackdown’ on the leadership of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf.

The PTI leader’s arrest was addition to the tally as several PTI leaders including former Governor Punjab Omer Sarfraz Cheema, PTI secretary general Asad Umar and PTI Vice President Fawad Chaudhry were already apprehended by police earlier in the day.

Earlier, an accountability court in Islamabad on Wednesday granted the physical remand of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan to NAB for eight days.

The decision was announced by accountability court judge Muhammad Bashir in a case pertaining to Al-Qadir Trust. The accountability bureau had requested Imran Khan’s physical remand for 14 days.

A day after the arrest of PTI chief Imran Khan, party’s general secretary Asad Umar, senior vice president Fawad Chaudhry, Jamshaid Iqbal Cheema and women leaders Musarrat Cheema and Maleeka Bokhari were also taken into custody on Wednesday and Thursday.

As Fawad Chaudhry came out of the SC, where he had been residing to evade arrest, he was taken into custody.

Talking to the media, he said it was happening for the first time in Pakistan that a SC lawyer had been arrested on SC premises. “What has been unforeseen, is happening now”, he added. Bar associations had, he said, reduced the power of lawyers in their personal feud.

All the sections of the society were facing challenges now, he said.

He said when he came to the IHC, Imran Khan was arrested on the premises of the IHC. “Imran Khan was tortured and his head was wounded,” he added. I appealed to the IHC CJ, he said, he entertained it and passed a worthless order.

He went on to say that the PTI also raised the issue before the SC but the case was not fixed for hearing. “Now SC have been evacuated and I have been asked to surrender,” he added.

He said problems could solved through dialogue in politics. “We need to cool down the heat raised by Imran Khan’s arrest,” he added.
An organised attempt had been made to create division between the army and the PTI, he said.

Earlier, it was reported that PTI vice chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi was arrested from the Red Zone in Islamabad. But Qureshi via Twitter denied rumours of his arrest and said this was a strategy of the government to spread misinformation to shatter the spirit of party and its supporters.

Asad Umar was arrested when he was about to leave for the SC to challenge the IHC decision on Imran Khan’s arrest along with Shah Mehmood Qureshi. Asad was whisked away by the Anti-Terror Squad.

The former finance minister was in the IHC to file a petition to seek a meeting with PTI Chairman Imran Khan. It is not clear on what charges Asad has been arrested.

According to eyewitnesses, the PTI lawyers resisted police to prevent Asad’s arrest, but the law enforcers overpowered them and took him away.

Two cases have been registered against him and other PTI leaders following the protests that ensued after Imran’s arrest. The cases were registered in Islamabad’s Tarnol and Aabpara police stations.

PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Senator Saifullah Sarwar Khan Niazi and Ghulam Sarwar Khan were also with Asad Umar when the CTD men swooped on him. All three leaders returned to the IHC’s Bar Room after Asad was held by police.

Police also tried to arrest Mr Qureshi, however, the lawyers and other party workers thwarted the police bid.

PTI leader Shireen Mazari condemned the arrest of Asad Umar on her Twitter handle. She tweeted: “Seems like the IHC area has become a fertile ground to illegally arrest PTI leaders”.

Sialkot police detained Aamir Dar, the brother of PTI leader Usman Dar, during a raid at a factory and shifted him to an unknown location. The Punjab police have so far arrested 1,650 activists for ransacking public and private properties, torching 69 police vehicles and injuring more than 150 officers and officials in the last two days.

In Lahore, unidentified people set a container carrying a piece of cloth on fire near Kalma Chowk in early hours. A police vehicle was torched on Sundar Das Road. In another incident, some people attempted to stop a passenger train at the Dharamapura Railway Crossing.

The Kasur police detained 25 PTI workers during multiple raids and shifted them to unknown locations.

Police took 16 PTI activists into custody from different localities of Quetta in the late hours. As many 80 workers have so far been taken into custody in the last two days.

Karachi police booked over 14 PTI leaders and 200 workers in several cases on the charges of sabotage and the Anti-Terrorism Act.
As many 296 protesters and attackers have been arrested in different parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) for ransacking public and private properties.

In Dir’s Chakdarra area, unidentified miscreants attacked an state owned building, burned down furniture and eight vehicles belonging to security forces. The attackers also set a motorway toll plaza on fire. The Attock police shifted 60 detained workers to the district jail.

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Parents concerned over functioning of schools in Islamabad

Mehtab Cheema

May 11, 2023

ISLAMABAD: Schools and colleges of all over Pakistan in general and in Islamabad particular as the institutions experienced an unprecedented lack of attendance, as parents opted to keep their children stay home due to the uncertain and potentially unsafe conditions.

The education system was thrown into disarray on Wednesday as the arrest of PTI Chairman Imran Khan, created an unstable political situation as PTI leaders and workers hold violent protests.

The lack of leadership from the education department regarding the decision to close schools and colleges resulted in minimal attendance, with only a few students braving the uncertain circumstances.

Adding to the low turnout was the failure of the schools and colleges to provide transportation services to their students. No school buses were dispatched to pick up students from their homes, leaving them with limited means to commute to their educational institutions.

This further contributed to the already abysmal attendance, as many students were unable to make the journey without reliable transportation which left teachers waiting in empty classrooms.

This unfortunate situation reflects the absence of effective leadership and decision-making within the federal education department.

Parents expressed their concerns regarding the security of their children. They voiced their frustrations, emphasizing that the education department should have taken timely action by announcing the closure of schools and colleges.

They argued that such a decision would have prevented students from being left in a state of uncertainty and ensured their safety during this politically unstable period.

When contacted for a comment, the Director (Academics) Federal Directorate of Education (FDE), Ms. Riffat Jabeen, explained that the education department’s hands were tied until directives regarding the closure of institutions were issued by the Ministry.
She implied that without official guidance, they were unable to make the independent decision to close schools and colleges.

This statement highlights the need for better coordination and communication between relevant authorities to prevent confusion and ensure the safety and well-being of students.

As the city continues to grapple with its unstable political situation, it is imperative that the education department and relevant authorities work swiftly to address these challenges.

Timely decision-making, effective communication, and proactive measures are vital to restoring a sense of normalcy and ensuring the uninterrupted education of the students.

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Al-Qadir Trust case: NAB to begin probing Imran Khan today

Sara Maqsood

May 11, 2023

ISLAMABAD: A team of the National Accountability Bureau will formally begin an investigation against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan today.

An Islamabad Accountability Court had approved Imran Khan’s eight-day physical remand in the Al-Qadir Trust corruption case on Wednesday.

Security arrangements have been beefed up at and around the Police Lines in Islamabad after it was declared a sub-jail. Additional containers have also been dispatched.

Accountability Court Judge Muhammad Bashir had heard the reference against the PTI chief.

Imran Khan was arrested on Tuesday in a graft case, and presented before the accountability court at the Police Lines Headquarters in H-11/1 Islamabad today.

Imran’s counsels Khawaja Haris, Faisal Chaudhry, Ali Gohar, and Ali Bukhari appeared before the court.

The accountability bureau will investigate the former premier at the Police Lines. The NAB had sought Imran Khan’s 14-day remand.

At the outset of hearing, the country’s top anti-corruption body sought 14-day physical remand of the former premier.

To which Imran’s council contended that NAB has no jurisdiction in the case, adding the anti-graft watchdog also did not share inquiry report.

He maintained that a fair trial is Imran Khan’s fundamental right. “Imran Khan’s trial should be held in open court,” his counsel urged the court.

NAB prosecutor Sardar Muzaffar reported to the court that Imran Khan was shown arrest warrants at the time of his detention. He also assured Imran’s council that the necessary documentation would be provided.

“This is a corruption case which the UK’s National Crime Agency has probed,” he said, adding that the money received was meant to be transferred to the government of Pakistan.

“Instead of the government, the funds that were received were transferred to Bahria Town,” he said.

The prosecutor further said Imran Khan’s aide Shahzad Akbar had briefed him about the funds in a cabinet meeting, and the then prime minister ordered to keep the record sealed.

Imran Khan disputed the prosecutor’s statement and informed the court that the warrants were not shown to him during his arrest, but rather shown when he was transferred to the NAB office.

During the hearing, Imran Khan told the court he had not gone to the washroom for 24 hours, and asked for calling his personal physician Dr Faisal.

He feared he would be meted out the same treatment as ‘Maqsood Chaprasi’, alleging people were injected something that killed them slowly.

Imran’s lawyer Khawaja Haris told the court a building was constructed on the land of Al-Qadir Trust where people were getting free education.

Meanwhile, a medical report submitted to the NAB showed that Khan has been declared fit and he did not complain of any pain to the doctors examining him.

A medical board, comprising seven doctors from the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) hospital and two doctors from the Polyclinic, examined Khan and conducted several tests.

The report submitted by the board, headed by Dr Rizwan Taj, showed that Khan’s blood pressure, sugar level, and heartbeat were normal after repeated tests.

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Shah Mehmood Qureshi arrested from Gilgit Baltistan house in Islamabad

Tanzeel Ahmed

May 11, 2023

ISLAMABAD: Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Vice Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf (PTI) was arrested by Islamabad Police here from Gilgit Baltistan House in federal capital.

In a video statement issued before his arrest of Vice Chairman PTI Shah Mehmood Qureshi, he said police reached to arrest him. “This is a real freedom movement,” he added.

“Imran Khan tried to fulfill the responsibility and played the politics of honesty for 40 years,” Qureshi added.

Qureshi vowed that the struggle would continue till the release of Imran Khan.

The PTI Vice Chairman said he has done nothing wrong and has no regrets.

“I have not given any statement of provocation,” Shah Mahmood added.

Without elaborating the context, he said a great sacrifice has to be made for a great cause.

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Army to be deployed in Punjab, KP, Balochistan as agitation claims 4 lives in Peshawar

Tanzeel Ahmed

May 10, 2023

ISLAMABAD: As political unrest simmers in the wake of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman (PTI) Imran Khan’s arrest, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab, Balochistan, and Islamabad have called in the army amid violence that claimed four lives in Peshawar, while Sindh is also imposing Section 144 to maintain law and order.

Police have arrested hundreds of supporters of ousted prime minister Imran Khan for violence after his arrest on corruption charges, authorities said, deepening the political crisis in the country.

Four bullet-riddled bodies were received by the emergency room doctors, a spokesperson for Lady Reading Hospital (LHR) told Geo News, while as many as 27 others were under treatment for traumatic injuries related to agitation.

Mobile data services were shut for a second day while Twitter, YouTube and Facebook were disrupted, as security forces tried to restore order after violence killed one person late on Tuesday.

The government said PTI workers had attacked important state buildings and damaged private and public vehicles.

“This can’t be tolerated, the law will take its course,” Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal told a news conference. “These violent attacks were not the outcome of any public outpouring, they were planned by the PTI rank and file.”

The Ministry of Interior has approved the Punjab government’s request for assistance by sanctioning ten companies of troops, saying: “The army would be working alongside district administration to restore law, order and peace”.

The order issued by the Federal Ministry of Interior stated: “Pursuant to the request made by the Home Department Government of Punjab, vide their letter No.SO(IS-II)3-15/2023 (Security) (1) Dated 9 May 2023, the federal government in excise of powers conferred under article 245 of the constitution and Section 4 (3) (ii) of the Anti-Terrorism Act 1997, (to discharge such functions as specified in the said act), is pleased to authorise the deployment of Pakistan Army troops/assets for maintaining law and order situations across the Punjab province in aid of civil power.”

The exact number of troops/assets, date and area of deployment will be worked out by the provincial government in consultation with the MO Dte, GHQ, it added.

“The date of the de-requisition of said deployment will be decided subsequently after mutual consultation between both stakeholders,” the notification said.

In a separate statement, Punjab police said action had been taken against those attacking government property, police force and law enforcement agencies in the province.

“Miscreants involved in violent acts, vandalism, damage to public and private property throughout the province have been arrested,” the notification said, adding that they had “seriously injured” more than 130 police officers and law enforcement personnel during the violent operations.

The spokesperson then shared: “Police teams have arrested 945 law breakers and miscreants from across the province.”

The Punjab police spokesperson said: “More than 25 vehicles of the police and government agencies were destroyed and burnt.”

Protesters had attacked more than 14 government buildings, looting and causing serious damage to government property, he shared.

Furthermore, Punjab Inspector General (IG) Dr Usman Anwar shared that strict legal action is being taken against those who challenge the writ of the state and the law.

He reaffirmed that those who injure citizens, police officers and personnel and damage property “will be brought to justice”.

Following the violent protests, at least 30 people were arrested in Peshawar, police confirmed, adding that cases had been registered against the alleged miscreants.

According to the police, the cases are registered on charges of damaging public and private property, vehicles, metro buses and government ambulances.

Provisions of arson, stone pelting, vandalism and attacks on the police have also been registered.

Identification of rioters and arsonists from CCTV footage and other sources is underway, the police said.

Reacting to the news, PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi slammed the federal government and questioned: How did the army become available for deployment in Punjab, when earlier it was said it was “too busy” [to perform election duty]?

“We have serious concerns about threats to the life of chairman Imran Khan. Our leader is in the custody of those who threatened him. Secondly, till yesterday, the army was very busy and was not available for the elections, but what has happened that the army has been deployed in Punjab and KP today? The nation is not stupid,” Qureshi tweeted.

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Imran Khan’s second-in-line Shah Mahmood Qureshi arrested in Islamabad

Sara Maqsood

May 10, 2023

Shah Mehmood Qureshi - The News Today - TNT

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi was arrested Wednesday, hours after the police apprehended PTI Secretary General Asad Umar as the authorities crack down on the party’s leadership amid countrywide protests due to PTI Chairman Imran Khan’s arrest.

People familiar with the matter said that Qureshi has been taken into custody for 15 days under Section 3 of the Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance, 1960.

The people added that both — Qureshi and Umar — have been shifted to the Secretariat Police Station in the federal capital, with police trying to arrest PTI Senior Vice President Fawad Chaudhry as well.

The PTI’s top-tier leadership is being put behind bars, sources said, to ensure law and order as they are the ones calling the shots — may it be protests or other disruptions being caused in the country.

The protests are being held in remote and major cities alike as the party workers are agitated due to their chairman’s arrest, with Balochistan, Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Islamabad summoning the armed forces to ensure law and order.

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Al Qadir Trust case: Imran’s 8-day physical remand approved

Tanzeel Ahmed

May 10, 2023

ISLAMABAD: An accountability court in Islamabad granted the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) eight-day physical remand of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief and former prime minister Imran Khan in the Al-Qadir Trust graft case.**

Accountability Court Judge Muhammad Bashir had heard the reference against the PTI chief and reserved his verdict.