PTM leader Ali Wazir arrested in Peshawar over 'hate speech'

Parliamentarian taken into custody for 'remarks against state institutions' in Karachi rally on Dec 6

Parliamentarian and Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement (PTM) leader Ali Wazir was arrested in Peshawar on Wednesday on charges of hate speech while addressing a rally in Karachi on December 6.

Wazir, who won his seat in the national assembly from South Waziristan, said that he was unaware of why he was taken into custody.

While fellow party leader Mohsin Dawar, claimed that Wazir had been arrested while he was exiting the Shuhada-e-APS Memorial Library.

Peshawar Police said that Wazir was transferred to East Cantt Police Station following his arrest and a case has been registered against him at the Sohrab Goth Polce Station in Karachi.

"A team from Sindh police came to Peshawar and we assisted [them] in arresting Ali Wazir," a police official confirmed, adding that after completing legal formalities, the MNA was handed over to Sindh police.

#Peshawar: Today MNA @Aliwazirna50 has been arrested by police without arrest warrant, #shameful #ReleaseAliWazir pic.twitter.com/JlBK9MuwtI

— sifatullah wazir (@WazirSifatullah) December 16, 2020

Footage of Wazir arguing with police officials as they hauled him into a police vehicle began doing the rounds on social media with #AliWazir trending on Pakistani Twitter.