Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) ‘s Secretary General, Asad Umar, has also been taken into custody. Umar was arrested at the Islamabad High Court (IHC) premises by the Anti-Terrorist Squad of the Islamabad police.
Asad Umar, who previously served as the finance minister, was present at the IHC to file a petition seeking permission to meet with the PTI Chairman, Imran Khan. The circumstances surrounding Umar’s arrest are not immediately clear, but it comes on the heels of Imran Khan’s apprehension, signaling an escalation in the pressure on PTI party leadership.
Imran Khan’s arrest has generated considerable attention and concern among the PTI party and its supporters. Moreover, the arrest of another high-ranking party member, Asad Umar, will likely heighten tensions further and raise questions about the motives behind the crackdown on PTI leadership.
It remains to be seen how these arrests will impact the PTI party and its activities moving forward and whether additional arrests of party leaders are expected in the coming days.
PTI lawyers clashed with police to prevent the arrest of former finance minister Umar, but law enforcement officers ultimately detained the PTI leader.
Umar faced charges in two cases against him and other PTI members following protests after Imran Khan’s arrest in Islamabad’s Tarnol and Aabpara police stations.
PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Senator Saifullah Sarwar Khan Nyazee, and Ghulam Sarwar Khan were present when Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) officers arrested Umar. The three leaders returned to the IHC’s Bar Room following the arrest.
Although police tried to arrest Qureshi, lawyers and party workers successfully prevented them from detaining the PTI vice chairman.
Umar’s arrest prompted PTI leader Shireen Mazari to voice her concerns on Twitter, referring to the IHC premises as a “fertile ground” for arresting PTI leaders.
Mazari condemned Umar’s arrest and criticized the state for targeting PTI leaders while failing to apprehend terrorists.
