Ex-Imran minister Fawad’s dramatic arrest raises political heat in Pak

Fawad was arrested comes after he alleged Shehbad Sharif government’s scheme to arrested his PTI party boss & former PM Imran Khan.

Srinagar (J&K) | Updated: 25 January, 2023 4:53 pm IST
Fawad Choudhary served as minister of information under the previous Imran Khan government. (file photo)

Former Pakistan minister Fawad Choudhary was arrested from Lahore on Wednesday morning, hours after the country’s poll watchdog filed a complaint against him for “inciting violence against a constitutional institution”.

His family said that the senior Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf  (PTI) leader was “taken away” from near his residence in four cars that did not have number plates at 5:30 am Pakistani time.

Speaking to the media, Fawad’s brother Faisal Choudhary said that his family was unaware of his location at the time.

“We are also not being given any details of the FIR registered against him,” said Faisal, who himself is a prominent lawyer. He termed the arrest as “illegal” and vowed to fight against the government in court.

Recently, Fawad, who served as the minister of information in the previous Imran Khan government, had publically censured the Shehbaz Sharif government for scheming to arrest former PM and PTI chairman Imran Khan. Along with scores of party workers, Fawad had gathered outside Khan’s Zaman Park residence in Lahore to “avert” the government’s alleged plan.

After the arrest, Fawad was sent presented before a local court which granted the police his transit remand to take him to the capital Islamabad.

Speaking to the media, Fawad said that he is “proud” of the case registered against him based on a complaint filed by Pakistan’s election commission. “Nelson Mandela also faced a similar case. It is being said that I committed treason,” he said.

The PTI leader sought respectful treatment because of his credential as a former federal minister and a Supreme Court lawyer.

“The way I was arrested was not appropriate,” Fawad said, adding that he would have appeared before the police had they called him. He went on to say that the entire country is saying what he said about the election commission.

Many senior PTI leaders have criticized the government for the arrest.

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