As the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf prepares for a rally in Lahore under the leadership of Chairman Imran Khan, its provincial assembly member from Sindh Arsalan Taj Hussain was arrested from his residence in Karachi, the party’s provincial spokesperson claimed on Sunday. went.
Hussain is a PTI provincial legislator and city secretary general from PS 102 Karachi East 4. A day earlier, the MPA had condemned Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Co-Chairperson Asif Ali Zardari and Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Memon, and had also claimed that Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) had, in fact, “ PPP was the B team.”
The party alleged that Hussain was picked up from his residence in Gulshan Iqbal by “men in plain clothes”.
The spokesperson also claimed that the police raided and ransacked the MPA’s house. PTI has condemned the arrest of its party member.
Meanwhile, the residences of PTI legislator Khurram Sherzaman and party spokesperson Raja Azhar were also raided. The two MPAs were not arrested, as they were not at home. However, the party claimed that Azhar’s family was harassed when he was not at home.
After Hussain’s arrest, his mother claimed that police raided her home and arrested her son without a warrant.
No female official accompanied the policemen. The police ransacked our house. [We] don’t know where they have taken Arslan,” he alleged as 20 to 25 people picked up the lawmaker.
Police investigating MPA’s disappearance
Meanwhile, the police said that they have received a complaint that the MPA has gone missing.
“We are investigating the disappearance of Arsalan Taj,” the police said.
‘Arsalan kept at unknown location’
Although the party has been claiming that the lawmaker was arrested by men in plain clothes.
The party has shared a video of the MPA being caught by the police on Twitter.
People’s Party has repeatedly shown its true colors, will the media speak now!? the party wrote on the microblogging site.
Bilawal and Zardari should be ashamed of themselves for this gross act of fascism against sitting MPA @ArsalanGhumman ! PPP has repeatedly showed their true colours, will the media now speak up!? pic.twitter.com/TGADe8RCiL
— PTI (@PTIofficial) March 12, 2023
Reacting to the raids on the residences of PTI legislators, party senior vice-president Fawad Chaudhry took to Twitter to condemn the lawmaker’s arrest and demanded his “immediate release”.
“PTI Karachi General Secretary and MPA Arsalan Taj Ghamman has been abducted by authorities. PTI strongly condemns this abduction and demands immediate release of Arsalan,” he tweeted.
PTI Karachi General Secretary and MPA Arsalan Taj Ghuman. has been abducted by authorities PTI strongly condemn this abduction and demand release of Arsalan immediately
— Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) March 12, 2023
PTIMPA Firdous Shamim Naqvi has alleged that the MLA has been arrested without a warrant.
“I have been to three police stations, but there is no one. Gulistan Johar police station refused to take the application.
Naqvi added that Hussain’s family is worried now and the party will protest against his arrest.
Party leader Shahzad Qureshi also condemned the illegal action by the police late at night.
Arsalan Taj has been kept at an undisclosed location. The police are threatening the families of the leaders,” he claimed, questioning the police if they considered parliamentarians as terrorists.
On the other hand, Sherzaman questioned whether the police had taken permission from the speaker before arresting Hussain.
“Rules are set before an assembly member is arrested. I demand the immediate release of Arslan Taj,” the lawmaker said.
In November last year, Hussain – along with PTI Sindh president Ali Zaidi and five MPAs, leaders and activists – were accused of being involved in violence, arson, assault on policemen and terrorism at the Tejam intersection in May. Two identical cases were registered against 25.
According to the prosecution, PTI leaders organized a rally of 600 to 700 workers in violation of the ban on public gatherings under Section 144 of the CrPC.
