PML-N leader Attaullah Tarar 'released after brief arrest' in Daska

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Attaullah Tarar was briefly arrested by Punjab Police in Daska on Friday.

According to media reports, Tarar was released shortly after his arrest. PML-N spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb, while condemning the arrest, said that Tarar was arrested by the police without providing any reason.

She said that Tarar was apprehended by the police without any arrest warrant, terming the development as "rigging before the elections".

However, Special Assistant to Chief Minister (SACM) on Information Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan, while denying that any arrest ever took place, said that the “entire drama was staged to gain sympathies of the people ahead of the Senate elections”.

"You [Tarar] want to be a Senator... we understand that... but I would advise you to fight your political opponents on political front rather than staging a drama," she said while addressing a press conference in Lahore soon after the ‘arrest/release episode’.

Firdous said that the government will continue to expose such conspiracies to mislead people. "Such tactics by the PML-N are known to people."

The special assistant also said that the police had received a tip-off that weapons were being carried in the vehicle of PML-N MNA Abid Raza.

"You [Tarar] could have just visited the police station if you wanted to inquire [about the incident] but instead you chose to sit in the police van by yourself. It proves that you were trying to stage a drama."