RAWALPINDI: Former interior minister and Awami Muslim League (AML) chairman Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, who is also an ally of PTI, was arrested from his residence in Bahria Town on Sunday and taken to an undisclosed location, his lawyer confirmed.

When contacted, Sardar Abdul Razzak Khan, the lawyer for the former interior minister, told Dawn that Sheikh Rashid, his nephew Sheikh Shakir and a staff member Mohammad Imran were arrested from the Bahria Town’s Phase III residence and taken to an “undisclosed place.”

According to Mr Razzak, initially, the AML chairman was not nominated in the FIR registered with the Kohsar police in Islamabad in connection with a midnight protest on May 9 against the arrest of PTI chief Imran Khan, but later his name was included in the FIR.

However, senior police officials in Islamabad denied detaining AML chairman Mr Ahmed.

Separately, in a video tweet, Sheikh Shafique, nephew of Mr Ahmed, said his uncle had been arrested by the Punjab police from Bahria Town in Rawalpindi, and his current whereabouts were unknown.

Mr Shafique also pointed out that both the Islamabad and Punjab police had informed the high courts in writing that Mr Ahmed was not wanted in any case.

He urged courts to take notice of the arrest and determine his uncle’s whereabouts. “We will fight the legal battle and have always indulged in politics of principles,” Mr Shafique said in the video.

He sought information about reasons for Mr Ahmed’s detention, and the specific case for which he was picked up.

Published in Dawn, September 18th, 2023