KARACHI: Punjab’s caretaker chief minister, Mohsin Naqvi, has regretted that a police team that went to arrest PTI President Parvez Elahi in a Friday midnight raid also forced its way into the house of PML-Q President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, an action also condemned by former Punjab governor and party’s chief organiser, Chaudhry Sarwar.

“No illegal action will be allowed by anyone,” Mr Naqvi said on Sunday, adding that he was in Madina and “getting all the details”.

“Appalled to know that team went to arrest Ch Pervaiz Elahi but stormed Ch Shujaat’s house in which Ch Salik Hussain [Mr Shujaat’s son] got injured. Law should take its course,” he said in the early morning tweet.

However, Mr Naqvi’s choice of words unleashed fierce criticism from senior PTI leader Shireen Mazari, who wondered why it was okay for police officials to “illegally and without a warrant” break into Mr Elahi’s home and the only condemnable part was that they tried to do the same to Shujaat Hussain.

Takes flak from Shireen Mazari for ‘selective criticism’

“Arresting someone in the darkness of night when they had protective bail and breaking down gates and the entrance door is criminal,” she tweeted and blamed the caretaker chief minister for allowing the raid.

On Saturday, former Punjab governor and PML-Q’s chief organiser, Chau­dhry Sarwar, also condem­ned the raiding team for storming Mr Shujaat’s house.

“Breaking into someone’s house in the middle of the night is not a democratic practice. Attacking the house of Chaudhry Shujaat and breaking

the windows was very shameful and worrisome,” Mr Sarwar tweeted.

Published in Dawn, May 1st, 2023

Opinion

Beefing up security

Beefing up security

The issue lies not in the sincerity and dedication of Pakistan’s law enforcement but in their capacity and access to effective surveillance equipment.

Editorial

Concerning measures
Updated 03 Nov, 2024

Concerning measures

The govt must seek political input and consensus on the changes it is seeking to make and be open about its intentions.
Short-lived relief?
03 Nov, 2024

Short-lived relief?

POLICYMAKERS must be jumping with joy. At the close of the first quarter of FY25, the budget posted a consolidated...
Brisk spread
03 Nov, 2024

Brisk spread

THE surge in polio cases has reached distressing levels with a tally of 45 last reported, after two cases emerged in...
Ultimate price
Updated 02 Nov, 2024

Ultimate price

To dismantle culture of impunity for crimes against journalists, state must ensure that perpetrators do not go unpunished.
Mastung bombing
02 Nov, 2024

Mastung bombing

INSTABILITY continues to haunt Balochistan, as Friday morning’s bombing in Mastung has shown. At least nine...
Plane speak
02 Nov, 2024

Plane speak

DESPITE all its efforts to facilitate PIA’s privatisation, it seems the government only ended up being taken for a...