ISLAMABAD – A day after the arrest of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan, party’s Vice President Asad Umar was also taken into custody on Wednesday.
Asad was about to leave for the Supreme Court to challenge the IHC decision on Imran Khan’s arrest along with Shah Mehmood Qureshi when he was taken into custody. Asad was whisked away by the Anti-Terror Squad to an “undisclosed” place.
The former finance minister was in the IHC to file a petition to seek a meeting with PTI Chairman Imran Khan. It is not clear on what charges Asad has been arrested.
According to eyewitnesses, the PTI lawyers resisted police to prevent Asad’s arrest, but the law enforcers overpowered them and took him away.
Two cases have been registered against him and other PTI leaders following the protests that ensued after Imran’s arrest. The cases were registered in Islamabad’s Tarnol and Aabpara police stations.
PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Senator Saifullah Sarwar Khan Niazi and Ghulam Sarwar Khan were also with Asad Umar when the CTD men swooped on him. All three leaders returned to the IHC’s Bar Room after Asad was held by police.
Police also tried to arrest Mr Qureshi, however, the lawyers and other party workers thwarted the police bid.
PTI leader Shireen Mazari condemned the arrest of Asad Umar on her Twitter handle. She tweeted: “Seems like the IHC area has become a fertile ground to illegally arrest PTI leaders”.
