ISLAMABAD: Two local leaders of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) were arrested by the capital police in connection with a case registered at Counter Terrorism Department over violence in the city during appearance of the former premier at Federal Judicial Complex in connection with the Toshakhana case on March 18, Dawn has learnt.

According to police, two leaders including PTI’s Central Deputy Information Secretary Aamer Mughal were arrested by Noon police. After the arrest, both were shifted to Noon police station where they were put behind bars for hours and later handed over to Ramna police station, they added.

Both leaders will be handed over to CTD for formal arrest and interrogation, the officers added. Earlier, instructions were issued to zonal superintendents of police, circular sub-divisional police officers and station house officers to trace and arrest PTI’s local leaders and activists residing in their jurisdictions, the offices said, adding that in this regard lists of leaders and activists were made with the assistance of different police units, including Special Branch.

The officer said that majority of leaders and activists went underground to avoid their arrest, the officers said, adding that the two leaders, including Mr Mughal were arrested in response of information after their hideout and movement was traced.

So far, the nearly 400 local leaders and activists of PTI were arrested by capital police in connection with a case registered on March 18 at the Counter Terrorism Department.

Earlier, the CTD called the former premier Imran Khan and other 16 PTI leaders to appear before the investigators and give their statements, in connection with a case registered on March 18 over violence in and around the Federal Judicial Complex.

According to the order issued by the CTD, Mr Khan, Ali Amin Gandapur, Ali Nawaz, Murad Saeed, Shibli Faraz, Omer Ayoub, Amir Kiani, Asad Omer, Hammad Azhar, Amjad Khan Niazi, Shahzad Wasim, Asad Qaiser, Raja Khurram Nawaz, Farrukh Habib, Jamshaid Mughal, Omer Sultan, Hassan Khan Niazi, and retired Lt Col Mohammad Asim were asked to appear before the investigators.

They were asked to appear as soon as possible and give their statements, otherwise, action would be taken against them as per law.

However, no one appeared before the CTD and investigators of the case so far, the officers said.

Published in Dawn, April 7th, 2023