ISLAMABAD, June 22: Former minister Shahid Jamil Qureshi was taken into custody here on Friday soon after an additional sessions judge cancelled his pre-arrest bail.

He was arrested in connection with the death of a Canadian woman of Pakistani origin who was found dead in his house on June 9.The family members of Kafila Siddiqui have alleged that Qureshi kept her in illegal confinement. But he has denied the charge.

Soon after the cancellation of bail, a police official handcuffed the former minister in front of the courtroom. Police informed the NA speaker in writing that they were arresting Mr Qureshi, who is a member of the National Assembly.

Later, the former minister was produced before senior civil judge Abid Rizwan Abid who remanded him in police custody for four days.

Earlier, additional sessions judge Mirza Nisar Baig cancelled the minister’s pre-arrest bail after hearing arguments from both sides for more than two hours.

The counsel for the complainant and police submitted statements of more than 15 persons, including cook, drivers, sweeper, gunmen and security guard who were deployed at the minister’s house at the time of the death of Kafila Siddiqui.

In their statements they said that Mr Qureshi had strictly ordered them not to disclose the presence of Ms Siddiqui in his house. Driver Zulfiqar said that the minister had brought Ms Siddiqui in his arms on June 8 at around 10.30pm and then left in his official car towards Motorway but returned from Kalarkahar.

Station House Officer of Shalimar Ghulam Mohammad Baqir showed some pictures of the deceased in which she had marks of injuries on her head.

The counsel for the accused said that the autopsy and chemical reports of the deceased were negative and the police did not have any direct evidence against him.

AFP adds: Mr Qureshi “has been remanded in police custody for investigation on charges of illegally confining the woman leading to her death,” senior Islamabad police officer Mohammad Ashfaq said.

He said the case had been registered by Ms Siddiqui’s family.

Mr Qureshi, who had been on bail since the registration of the case, has insisted the woman died of natural causes and that he found her dehydrated in her room where she had locked herself after having business and personal problems.