RAWALPINDI: Awami Muslim League (AML) leader and former interior minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed was arrested on Tuesday by police from outside the Anti-Terrorism Court building after his bail plea was rejected in a case related to May 9 violence.

Soon after his arrest, Mr Rashid was taken to an undisclosed location. He will be produced before the court on Wednesday for remand custody. The AML leader was granted bail in all other cases, except the one case registered with New Town police.

The former interior minister was previously arrested in September last year by the Punjab police during a crackdown against PTI workers and supporters after the May 9 violence.

On Tuesday, former interior minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed and Sheikh Rashid Shafique, a former MNA, appeared before the court.

AML leader to be brought to court today; LHC reserves verdict on petition challenging acceptance of his nomination papers

The court confirmed the pre-arrest bail of Sheikh Rashid Shafique and Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, but cancelled the bail of the former interior minister in the New Town case.

On Tuesday, the AML leader appeared before the court of ATC-I Judge Malik Asif Ejaz for the hearing of his bail plea.

Mr Rashid was rounded up by the police in a case registered with the New Town police soon after his bail plea was rejected by the ATC judge.

In a related development, the full bench of the Lahore High Court on Tuesday reserved verdict on a petition challenging the acceptance of Mr Rashid’s nomination papers from NA-56 and NA-57 of Rawalpindi.

A citizen, Muhammad Arsalan, filed the petition pleading that the respondent was a defaulter of government taxes and he has concealed details of his assets in the nomination papers.

He asked the full bench to set aside decisions of the ROs and the appellate tribunal regarding the acceptance of the respondent’s nomination papers for Feb 8 general elections.

Wajih Ahmad Sheikh in Lahore also contributed to this report

Published in Dawn, January 17th, 2024