GUJRAT: The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Mandi Bahauddin district president Faisal Mukhtar Gondal has been arrested at the Peshawar airport while attempting to flee abroad.

Sources told Dawn that Mr Gondal was wanted by local police as his detention orders had been issued under Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance after which he had gone into hiding.

However, they added that Gondal made an attempt to flee the country by a flight from Peshawar airport, where he was detained by the authorities as his name was on the Exit Control (ECL).

His family sources also confirmed his arrest.

Meanwhile, Gujrat district PTI president and ex MPA Saleem Sarwar Jaura was shifted to the Aziz Bhatti Shaheed Teaching Hospital (ABSTH) after his health condition deteriorated in the district and session judge’s courtroom, where he was presented by police after completion of his physical remand in the cases lodged against him.

As per court sources, Mr Jaura developed breathing problem in the courtroom, and was hurriedly shifted to the cardiology ward of ABSTH by the Rescue 1122 ambulance.

A number of his supporters reached the hospital after hearing the news about his health condition.

Mr Jaura had been arrested after May 9 riots and was booked in two different cases lodged by Gujrat police.

Published in Dawn, May 25th, 2023