FAISALABAD: The police took All Pakistan Anjuman Tajran (APAT) Secretary General Naeem Mir into custody in connection with a “case registered with New Anarkali police station, Lahore,” but later released him.

Before his arrest by the Civil Lines police, Mr Mir told the media that he was staying at the Chenab Club and was visited by a police team that told him he was wanted by Lahore’s New Anarkali police in connection with a case.

He said when the policemen were asked to show the case record, they could not produce any document and returned without arresting him.

After addressing the press conference, Mir was taken into custody by the Civil Lines police which enraged the local traders.

Mr Mir had been vocal against the government policies and had announced that the traders of the country would join the agitation launched by the PDM.

The traders argued with the police and termed the arrest of Mr Mir a “vindictive act” aimed at stopping the trading community from raising voice against what they called ill-conceived policies of the government.

They said the traders won’t remain silent against the government’s “oppression”.

Mr Mir was being punished only for supporting the opposition alliance, the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), they alleged.

However, he was later released when New Anarkali police told Faisalabad police that he was not wanted by them.

Talking to Dawn, Mir said Faisalabad police tried to arrest him in connection with a case he had got registered with the New Anarkali police through his manager in 2006, declaring him a proclaimed offender.

He wondered why he was declared a PO in a case which he himself had got registered with the New Anarkali police, Lahore.

“I will file a defamation suit against the policemen who harassed me,”he added.

Published in Dawn, January 10th, 2021