BMUZAFFARGARH: Police arrested former PTI MNA and state minister Dr Shabbir Ahmad Qureshi, who had been in hiding since long, from the premises of the Lahore High Court, Multan bench, on Thursday.

Talking to the media, the PTI leader’s brother Ahsan Qureshi alleged that his brother was called by the election tribunal in the high court bench for hearing of his appeal against the rejection of his nomination papers.

Ahsan Qureshi said his brother was kidnapped by the police and ‘unidentified persons’ from the court premises, which was violation of the law. He appealed to the chief justice of Pakistan to take action against the lawlessness committed by the police as Shabbir was not wanted in any case.

Dawn has learnt that Qureshi was in hiding since May 9 while the police were looking for him. Sources said he was wanted in the case registered over May 9 incidents as he was involved in the road blockade and protest at the police station.

Shabbir was the PTI candidate for NA-179 and NA-180 and his nomination papers were rejected by the returning officer. He had submitted an appeal to the election tribunal where the judge asked him to correct his signature because his signatures in the nomination papers were not matching with his actual signatures. When he appeared before the judge on Thursday, he was arrested.

Ahsan Qureshi said he and his family were standing by the PTI and would remain with the party.

Published in Dawn, January 5th, 2024