PTI leaders exude trepidation after Sheikh Rashid's overnight arrest
Pakistan
Sheikh Rashid arrested in overnight raid
RAWALPINDI (Dunya News) - Awami Muslim League (AML) chief Sheikh Rashid Ahmed was arrested by police from his residence in a private housing society in the wee hours of Thursday, Dunya News reported.
His nephew, former MNA Rashid Shafiq, has confirmed the arrest of Mr Ahmed by the Islamabad police. He said a heavy contingent reached the residence of the former interior minister and arrested him. He also alleged that police had not informed the family in which case Sheikh Rashid had been taken into custody.
Police shifted Sheikh Rashid to the Aabpara police station after the arrest and a First Information Report was registered against him on complaint of Raja Inayat Rehman, the vice president of PPP’s Rawalpindi division, for accusing former president Asif Ali Zardari of plotting the assassination of PTI chief Imran Khan.
Sheikh Rashid also shared his picture on his Twitter account in which he can be seen sitting in the Aabpara police station, Islamabad in a relaxed mood and smoking a cigar.
Speaking to media after the arrest, Sheikh Rashid said hundreds of police officials barged into his house in the dead of night on Thursday without any warrant and arrested him.
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He also alleged that police thrashed his servants and broke the doors and windows of his house. He said an FIR had been filed against him after the arrest. He also alleged that Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah was behind his arrest.
Following the arrest, the former interior minister was taken to the Poly Clinic Hospital for medical examination. It emerged that Mr Ahmed refused to provide urine sample for alcohol examination test and to undergo ECG test. However, he allowed the medical officials to take blood sample for the alcohol test.
Sheikh Rashid’s Arrest Sparks Condemnation
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan on Thursday condemned the arrest of Awami Muslim League (AML) chief Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, Dunya News reported. The former prime minister took to Twitter to condemn the AML chief's arrest. "Strongly condemn arrest of Sh Rasheed.Never in our history have we had such a biased, vindictive Caretaker govt appt by totally discredited ECP," he said.
Strongly condemn arrest of Sh Rasheed.Never in our history have we had such a biased, vindictive Caretaker govt appt by totally discredited ECP. Question is can Pak afford a street movement which we are being pushed towards at a time when we have been bankrupted by Imported Govt?
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) February 1, 2023
Imran Khan in a tweet also said: "Question is can Pak afford a street movement which we are being pushed towards at a time when we have been bankrupted by Imported Govt?"
PTI leader Hammad Azhar also reacted to the arrest of the AML chief, saying such attempts aimed at creating an environment of fear. He said the basic human right would be curbed in the country if the Supreme Court did not take notice of these arrests.
— Hammad Azhar (@Hammad_Azhar) February 1, 2023
Former National Assembly deputy speaker Qasim Khan Suri said the arrest of the leaders of the PTI and its allies was “worst fascism”.
— Qasim Khan Suri (@QasimKhanSuri) February 1, 2023
PTI Senator Azam Khan Swati also condemned the illegal arrest of Sheikh Rashid. “This imported government continues to oppress the people of Pakistan with their fascist & cowardice actions. Haqeeqi Azaadi is the only way to free ourselves from this corrupt mafia,” he wrote on Twitter.
