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Web Desk — Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) top leadership including Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Fawad Chaudhry, and Asad Umar have been arrested from Islamabad as the government tightened the noose around the party after violent protests in the country against former prime minister Imran Khan’s arrest.
Qureshi was hiding in the Gilgit-Baltistan House Islamabad when police reached there late at night to arrest him under Section 3 of Maintenance of Public Order (3MPO).
Police sources said that the former foreign minister was arrested by the police in cases of riots and arsons in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The PTI leader, before the arrest, encouraged party workers to continue their struggle for true freedom in the country.
Qureshi’s Message for Party Workers
He said, “As Pakistan’s foreign minister, I defended Pakistan’s interests at every forum. I have been in practical politics for 40 years.”
Qureshi added he did not make any provocative statements that could lead to lawsuits, so had no regrets. He hoped that the PTI movement will reach its destination.
Qureshi, the second in line to Khan, expressed his grief and sorrow over casualties during the recent violent protests around the country after the arrest of party chairman Khan in Islamabad.
He advised party loyalists not to lose heart and stay put in the field. “We have not taken the law into our hands before, and we will not do so in the future as well.”
The PTI stalwart emphasized that the allegation of the Corps Commander House Lahore incident was false against him and Khan. He stressed to the party activists to remain calm and stick to their cause.
PTI’s Central Leaders Behind Bars
Spokesperson Islamabad Police has confirmed that PTI leaders, including Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Asad Umar, Fawad Ch, Jamshed Iqbal Cheema, Falak Naz Chitrali, Mussarat Jamshed Cheema, and Maleeka Bukhari are under arrest.
Around 1,400 PTI workers arrested
So far, 1,386 PTI workers have been arrested in Punjab on the charges of vandalism, violence, and arson of public and private properties, police sources have disclosed.
A police statement says during the protests more than 145 police officers and officials have been wounded across Punjab meanwhile 69 vehicles used by Punjab Police were vandalized and set on fire.
