The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has condemned the arrest of independent candidate Daniyal Aziz, his wife Mehnaz Akber Aziz, and his son following the February 8 elections.

Daniyal, who is a former federal minister, was already in police custody when his wife and son were arrested. Prior to Mahnaz’s arrest, she had claimed that Daniyal was being illegally detained for rigging the election, which he has denied. She added that more than 100 of their supporters had been arrested.

“HRCP deplores the authorities’ high-handedness against independent candidate Daniyal Aziz and his wife, former MNA Mehnaz Akber Aziz, and their son, in Narowal soon after the elections,” the commission said in a statement on X.

“Mr Aziz had been arrested earlier by the police on unknown charges while visiting polling stations in his constituency on polling day. All cases of unwarranted force against political candidates, their families and supporters must be investigated and those responsible held to account,” the HRCP added.