ABBOTTABAD, Oct 20 Former provincial minister for local governments Sardar Mohammad Idrees and his brother Fazlur Rehman were arrested here on Monday after the anti-terrorism court, Abbottabad cancelled their bail plea.

The ex-minister and his brother were apprehended by the Abbottabad police on the court premises as soon as his pre-arrest bail petition was dismissed by the anti-terrorist court, Abbottabad on Monday.

It may be recalled that Sardar Idrees was unofficially declared the winner in the February 18, 2008 general elections from PA-46 Abbottabad. But his rival candidate Barrister Abbasi challenged his win in the election commission and after recounting Sardar Idrees lost to his opponent by 89 votes.

In a reaction to the returning officer's decision his supporters, lead by his brother Fazlur Rehman, took out a protest demonstration from their office and allegedly ransacked government property. They also reportedly attacked the supporters of his rival candidate.