PTI Chairman Imran Khan has strongly condemned the “illegal arrests and abduction” of workers and leaders. In a statement on Twitter, he said that Shah Mahmood Qureshi and Asad Umar have been incarcerated for more than a week.

“Also, despite court orders journalist Imran Riaz Khan has not been presented and there are confirmed reports of torture against him,” he said.

He demanded the “immediate release” of all female leaders, workers and leaders’ female family members. He said that he was “deeply disturbed” after hearing of Shireen Mazari’s treatment and reports of her daughter being “physically assaulted” by male officers.

“The video evidence coming forward of the barbaric treatment meted out to our female supporters is reprehensible […] All these women must be immediately released. Their continued incarceration is unconscionable. I am also raising this with international human rights organisations,” Imran said.