SAHIWAL: Faisalabad police could not arrest six Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) leaders, including two parliamentarians, who were sentenced to 10-year imprisonment each by the anti-terrorism court in connection with the May 9 riots.

Reports said police along with law-enforcement agencies conducted multiple raids on the residences and business outlets of the PTI men but did not find anyone on both locations. Among the six individuals, four belong to the Sahiwal district while two are from Okara.

Those targeted in the raids include Shakeel Khan Niazi, PTI provincial office-bearer, Chaudhry Asif Ali, president, west Punjab, Rai Hasan Nawaz, MNA, Rai Mujtaba Iqbal, MPA from Chichawatni, Ashraf Sohna, PTI ticket-holder, and Mahar Javed, PTI MPA from Okara district.

Speaking to Dawn from an undisclosed location, Rai Hasan Nawaz said Faisalabad police raided his residence, “Rai House” in Chichawatni, thrice over the past 38 hours, but neither he nor his nephew Rai Mujtaba Iqbal were present during any of the searches.

It merits mentioning that Asif Ali’s real estate office located at Madhali Road and business outlet have remained sealed by LEAs for a year.

Reports also indicate that raids were conducted at the petrol pumps operated by Shakeel Khan Niazi and Ashraf Sohna, though no arrests were made.

Rai Hasan Nawaz said he, along with fellow PTI leaders, plans to file a bail application with the Lahore High Court on Monday (tomorrow). “A PTI legal team is preparing to challenge all verdicts issued by the Faisalabad trial court,”

he said.

Published in Dawn, August 3rd, 2025