GUJRAT: An American citizen of Pakistani origin who is said to be an official of the New York Police Department (NYPD) was among the 17 supporters of the Pakistan Tehreek Insaaf who were arrested in a raid at an office of a party candidate in PP-31 (Gujrat city) on Tuesday last.

However, all the arrested men were released after their bail plea was accepted by a local court on Wednesday.

The city circle police had arrested them from the office of Mudassar Raza in Marghzar Colony.

A case was lodged against some 25 suspects, including 17 nominated, with the Civil Lines police under sections 341, 290, 291, 148 and 149 of Pakistan Penal Code on the report of SI Muhammad Asif.

Since Zain Cheema was among the detained suspects, his family uploaded his pictures in NYPD outfit on social media. A senior official of Gujrat police said that Cheema did not let the police know about his identity.

It is learnt that the Lahore consulate of the United States also contacted the Gujrat police to get details of the case.

Published in Dawn, January 18th, 2024