Following the arrest of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan and Secretary-General Asad Umar, party’s senior vice-chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi has been arrested from Islamabad red zones the authorities crack down on the party’s leadership to restrict countrywide protests.
According to details, the former foreign minister was arrested from Islamabad Red Zone under Section 3 of the Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance, 1960.
Also Read: Islamabad High Court declare Imran Khan’s Arrest constitutionally Legal
Sources have reported that Shah Mehmood Qureshi has been taken into custody and moved to the Secretariat Police Station in the federal capital, where Asad Umar is also being held.
Earlier the PTI senior vice president instructed the party workers to continue protest until Imran Khan is released. “Such arrests and threat cannot stop us from holding peaceful protests,” he added.
Shah Mehmood Qureshi further said that the party’s senior leadership was working to highlight the ‘atrocities’ of the government, urging the party workers and supporters to reach the ‘protest sites’.
Today PTI leader Asad Umar was arrested from the premises of Islamabad High Court (IHC). Asad Umar was arrested from the IHC as he reached to file a petition to seek a meeting with PTI Chairman Imran Khan.
The former finance minister was arrested by the Anti-Terrorist Squad of the Islamabad police. Sources said that Asad Umar was arrested under section 16 of the Maintenance of the Public (MPO).
PTI lawyer Faisal Chaudhry said that Asad Umar was taken into custody from outside the IHC Bar Association’s office, adding the case in which the PTI leader was arrested is still unclear.
The arrests of the both come a day after Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan was arrested from IHC in the Al-Qadir Trust case.
Social Media and Internet Ban
Internet Services and Social media platforms including Facebook, YouTube and Twitter have been blocked across Pakistan.
Social media platforms including Facebook, YouTube and Twitter were blocked in Pakistan. The development came after the arrest of PTI chief Imran Khan on Tuesday by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).
Sources within the government confirmed that social media services were temporarily blocked to avoid the propaganda.
Earlier, Internet service was also suspended in different cities of Pakistan including Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Lahore and others.
Protests erupted across the country after Imran Khan’s arrest in the Al-Qadir Trust corruption case. PTI workers held protests in cities across the country, including Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Lahore, Karachi, Gujranwala, Faisalabad, Multan, Peshawar, and Mardan.
PTI Workers threw stones at and set fire to police vehicles, tore down street lights and damaged a bus. There were reports that police fired teargas shells at the protesters. Police also fired teargas shells at protesters on Rawalpindi’s Murree Road.
Red Alert in Islamabad
Authorities have declared Red alert in Islamabad district after imposing section 144. “Paramilitary rangers will be imposed at key government buildings while armed force will be deployed at various intersections and thoroughfares of the city,” sources said.
Due to ongoing political tensions, Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Govt called in Army troops to control the situation.
According to a letter, a requisition was forwarded by the Punjab home minister for the deployment of Pakistan Army troops under Article 245.
The Pakistan Army will assist the district administration in maintaining law and order.
Meanwhile, the army has also been summoned for support in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
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.”
Remember that, law and order in Pakistan especially in Punjab and KP is worsening after the arrest of former prime minister Imran Khan.