On Monday, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan and Information Secretary Rauf Hassan were reportedly arrested by Islamabad police in a raid at the party’s office, according to claims made by Imran Khan’s lawyer, Ali Ijaz Buttar. Buttar announced the arrest on the social media platform X, stating, “I just received a call from the party’s office informing that 300 to 400 policemen arrived at the [party’s] office and arrested PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar and Information Secretary Rauf Hasan.”
The PTI condemned the arrests through its official X account, criticising the actions of the Islamabad police. The party’s statement read, “It’s absolutely shameful how Islamabad Police continues to completely mock and disregard every law in this country. Law of the jungle is reigning over Pakistan!” The condemnation was shared alongside footage purportedly showing police vehicles and personnel outside the party’s central secretariat.
In a related development, PTI leader Khurram Sher Zaman accused the police of confiscating documents and equipment from the party’s office. He posted on X, “We’ve been informed that they’ve locked staff in a room & waiting for [the] prison van to arrive & have taken computers & important documents.”
The arrests and subsequent police actions have sparked outrage within the PTI, raising concerns over the legal and political implications of the raid. The incident highlights escalating tensions between the PTI and law enforcement agencies, further complicating the political landscape in Pakistan.
Authorities have yet to release an official statement regarding the reasons behind the raid and the arrests of the PTI leaders.