CCTV footage shows events around Capt (r) Safdar's arrest

The PML-N leader was arrested for violating the sanctity of the tomb of Mazar-e-Quaid.

KARACHI (Dunya News) – CCTV footage of the arrest of Captain (r) Muhammad Safdar, husband of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) vice president Maryam Nawaz, from a hotel room in Karachi in the wee hours of Monday has come to light.

The PML-N leader was arrested for violating the sanctity of the tomb of the Father of the Nation Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah.

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) vice-president and wife of Muhammad Safdar, Maryman Nawaz took to Twitter and said, “Police broke my room door at the hotel I was staying at in Karachi and arrested Capt. Safdar.”

“I was in the room, sleeping, when they barged in,” Maryam Nawaz said.

Hours after the arrest of the PML-N leader for “violating the sanctity of Mazar-e-Quaid” case on Monday, the judicial magistrate east approved his bail and instructed him to submit surety bonds worth Rs100,000.

Announcing its verdict on the remand application for Captain (retd) Muhammad Safdar, City court rejected the plea and granted bail to Captain (r) Safdar.

Let it be known that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders had filed a complaint against Maryam Nawaz and Captain (retd) Safdar among 200 PML-N workers at the Brigade Police Station in Karachi for chanting slogans at the Mazar-e-Quaid.

According to the FIR, the case had been registered on Section 6 (convening of meetings or processions at the mausoleum), Section 8 (entry into mausoleum with weapon) and Section 10 (penalty for contravention of provisions) of The Quaid-i-Azam’s Mazar (Protection and Maintenance) Ordinance, 1971.

It is pertinent here to mention that PML-N leaders had paid a visit to the Mazar-e-Quaid before the Pakistan Democratic Movement’s (PDM) rally in Karachi on Sunday and chanted political slogans at the mausoleum.

The Sindh government has publicly denied any role in the arrest with Bilawal apologising to Maryam Nawaz for the “embarrassment”, saying it was against “the tradition of Sindhi culture”. The arrest came hours after the two scions addressed a public rally on the platform of the newly-formed Pakistan Democractic Movement (PDM).

Federal ministers slam PML-N

The government ministers had slammed PML-N leaders for chanting “Vote ko izzat do” slogan at the tomb of founder of Pakistan, Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah.

Federal Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry said that these people have no capability, adding that the mental backwardness of these people has come to the fore. He said Captain Safdar’s brain is like that of a small child and demanded apology from PML-N.

Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Sanator Shibli Faraz strongly condemned the move and said that using the tomb of the father of the nation for politics was reprehensible and shameful. “They should have instead apologized to the founder of Pakistan for ruthlessly looting to country,” he added.

Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Political Communication Dr. Shahbaz Gill criticized Maryam Nawaz over the violation of the sanctity of the mausoleum.

Minister for Maritime Affairs Ali Haider Zaidi said the behavior is just not acceptable. “The sanctity of Quaid’s Mazar [has been] disrespected by these criminals masquerading as politicians,” he said.

Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Asad Umar while demanding an apology from the party said that these “shameless people are ignorant of their history, and have no sense of regard and respect for such a place. They only have respect for Nawaz. They don t know how to respect anyone else.”

Adviser to Prime Minister on Parliamentary Affairs Dr Babar Awan said that ‘absconder family’ has violated the sanctity of the mausoleum.

COAS orders inquiry

Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa has ordered an inquiry into the recent “Karachi incident”, a statement by the military’s media wing Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said yesterday.

“[General Bajwa] has directed Commander Karachi Corps to immediately inquire in to the circumstances to determine the facts and report back as soon as possible,” the statement said.

The statement by ISPR follows Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari news conference at Bilawal House in Karachi where he urged the army chief and Director General Inter-Services Intelligence ISI) Lt General Faiz Hameed to hold an inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the arrest of Captain (r) Safdar Awan, husband of Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) vice-president Maryam Nawaz.