LAHORE: Police arrested Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Punjab chief organiser Aaliya Hamza, receiving backlash from the party leaders and workers.

She was arrested late on Wednesday night when she was visiting her family members. She was in Lahore to celebrate Eidul Fitr and was preparing to leave when she was arrested. She was reportedly taken to Shadman Police Station before being shifted to the Kot Lakhpat Jail.

Ms Hamza had been absconding and organising party legislators, ticket-holders and workers’ gathering outside Adiala Jail.

PTI secretary general Salman Akram Raja said the case against Ms Hamza was fake, the sentence was against the law and the arrest was fascism. Condemning Ms Hamza’s arrest, he demanded that all appeals of the prisoners and requests for suspension of sentences must be heard immediately. He said the party leaders and workers had celebrated Eidul Fitr under the shadow of unjust imprisonment of founder Imran Khan and other arrested workers.

The party leaders and workers also condemned Ms Hamza’s arrest and acknowledged that she had strategically organised the party with and motivated the workers to continue the struggle for the release of founder Imran Khan.In a statement on Thursday, Tehreek Tahafuz Ayeen-i-Pakistan (TTAP) condemned Ms Hamza’s rearrest after she was sentenced in May 9 cases in unfair and partial trial.

TTAP spokesman Hussain Ahmad Yousafzai said Ms Hamza’s arrest was against the basics of justice and the Constitution of Pakistan.

“Ms Hamza’s arrest is an attempt to suppress political voices in the country,” he said.

The TTAP demanded immediate release of Aaliay Hamza, annulment of all fake cases instituted against her and action against those involved in her illegal arrest.

Published in Dawn, March 27th, 2026