Islamabad police arrest Fawad Chaudhry

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Fawad Chaudhry was detained from his home on Wednesday morning, shortly after publicly criticizing the government for plotting to detain party chairman Imran Khan.

Islamabad police verified the arrest. Based on a complaint made by the Secretary of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), Omer Hamid Khan, a case against Chaudhary was opened last night at the Kohsar police station in Islamabad. A first information report (FIR) was filed against him for threatening language toward the ECP and its members.

The PTI leader has been charged with violating sections 153-A of the Pakistan Penal Code (sedition), 506 of the Criminal Intimidation Act, 505 of the Statements Contributing to Public Mischief Act, and 506 of the Criminal Intimidation Act.

Fawad warned the ECP, its members, and their families in his speech outside Imran Khan’s house in Lahore, according to the FIR.

According to the FIR, Chaudhary claimed that the election commission’s status had been downgraded to that of a “Munshi [clerk].”

According to Fawad, those who join the caretaker administration will be hunted down and punished. He had stated that those in government would be pursued to their homes.

The arrest of Fawad took place during a nightlong mobilization of PTI members who rushed to the home of the party’s chairman Imran Khan to ensure his safety.

Habib claimed in a tweet that “the imported government has gone berserk.”. The PTI leader also shared videos of the police removing Fawad on social media.

The PTI leader was taken into custody in Lahore at his home close to Thokar Niyaz Baig, according to sources in the Islamabad police department. As per the sources, he would be transported to the federal capital.

Several party leaders denounced the imprisonment of Fawad Chaudhry. President of the PTI Sindh, Ali Haider Zaidi, criticized the government for the arrest.