PTI’s leader Shah Mahmood Qureshi was also arrested from Gilgit Baltistan House this morning
ISLAMABAD: Islamabad police finally arrested vice-chairman of Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf Shah Mahmood Qureshi early morning on Thursday. Police took him into custody from the Gilgit Baltistan House in Islamabad.
Before his arrest, Qureshi issued a statement through video in which he said that police reached to arrest him.
“This is a real freedom movement,” he added.
PTI leader said, “Imran Khan tried to fulfill the responsibility and played the politics of honesty for 40 years.”
Qureshi said the struggle of PTI would continue till the release of Imran Khan.
“I have not given any statement of provocation,” Shah Mahmood added.
Why was Qureshi hiding in the Gilgit Baltistan House in Islamabad? He gave no reason.
Fawad Chaudhary arrested
Earlier, Islamabad police arrested PTI SVP Fawad Chaudhary from outside the Supreme Court building after 12 hours of ‘hide and seek’.
The senior PTI leader remained inside the Supreme Court since 11 am (for more than 12 hours) just to evade arrest. However, police arrested him the moment he came out of the building of the apex court on Wednesday night.
The Islamabad police detained Fawad Chaudhry under Section 3 of the Maintenance of Public Ordinance (MPO) and shifted him to the Secretariat Police Station.
PTI leader Asaad Umar arrested
Earlier, the Anti-Terrorist Squad arrested PTI Secretary General Asad Umar from the premises of the IHC on Wednesday.
The Islamabad police’s ATS officials picked up Asad Umar from outside the IHC Bar Room. Asad Umar and other PTI leaders were preparing a plea to file their case in the IHC seeking a meeting with Khan.
PM Shehbaz and Army’s Warning to Rioters
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Pakistan Army warned the PTI’s rioters of serious consequences for ransacking public and private properties.
PM Shehbaz that stern action would be taken against the “state’s enemies” as he lambasted the PTI for violence that gripped the country soon after the arrest of PTI Chairman Imran Khan in the Al-Qadir Trust corruption case.
Addressing the nation today, PM said, “The miscreants will be dealt with iron hands. They will be punished according to the law.”
Premier urged the PTI protesters to “anti-state activities” forthwith.
Shehbaz Sharif hailed the nation for “rejecting anti-state agenda”. He also praised law enforcement agencies, including the military, for showing restraint in the face of violent protests.
Prime Minister accused PTI leadership of instigating a “few hundred armed workers” to attack the Pakistan Army.
Meanwhile, through a press statement, Pakistan Army also warned the PTI rioters of serious consequences for attacking army personnel, and offices and damaging public and private property.
