SWAT: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf’s former MPA Fazal Hakeem and his brother-in-law, Shahid Ali Khan, the Mingora city mayor, were arrested by the police from inside a court here on Wednesday and were taken to the Saidu Sharif police station.

Mr Hakeem is also the PTI president for Malakand division.

The PTI leaders were granted bail a few days ago by the Special Anti-Terrorism Court of Swat. However, both had also secured bail-before-arrest in the same case.

Meanwhile, former MNA Salim-ur-Rehman, who is also PTI Swat president, has been on the run.

The charges filed against Mr Hakeem, Mr Ali and other PTI leaders and workers, as stated in the FIR registered with the Saidu Sharif police station, include provisions related to sections 500, 505, 120B, 124A, and 7ATA.

The contents of the FIR mention that Mr Hakeem and 250 PTI supporters had gathered in front of the Swat Circuit House, where they had allegedly threatened to burn the country and vandalise public property.

Moreover, they were accused of using abusive language against the army chief and attempting to incite people against the country and state institutions, employing vulgar language in the process.

Published in Dawn, July 20th, 2023