Punjab Police arrested several top leaders from Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) Chairman Sahibzada Hamid Raza on Tuesday. They attempted to meet PTI founder and former Prime Minister Imran Khan at Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail.
PTI announced the arrests on social media platform X, stating: “Omar Ayub Khan, Shibli Faraz, Asad Qaiser, Ahmed Bhachar, Sahibzada Hamid Raza have been arrested outside Adiala Jail, for simply exercising their right to meet with Imran Khan, as permitted by law.” They aimed to discuss political strategies with Imran Khan, who was imprisoned for over a year.
PTI leadership and Imran Khan meetings are common as they coordinate their political efforts. Under Raza’s leadership, the SIC is a major ally of PTI, with PTI lawmakers also holding memberships in SIC.
Aliya Hamza Malik, another delegate, was present but not arrested. Sources mentioned she stood away from the main group and did not participate in the incident.