Qureshi hints that he may be arrested next

PTI vice chairman says he’ll announce party’s next move keeping in view Imran’s instructions

KARACHI:

PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Tuesday said he would announce the party’s next course of action keeping in view the instructions from its chairman, Imran Khan.

“If I am also arrested, someone else will take over the leadership of the party,” the former foreign minister told the media in Karachi.

Earlier in the day, Imran, who was ousted from the post of the prime minister in April last year, was arrested by Rangers personnel from the Islamabad High Court’s premises – a move that was later in the day declared legal by the court.

He was rounded up in connection with the Al-Qadir Trust case, wherein the PTI chief and his wife, Bushra Bibi, faced charges of  acquiring billions of rupees from a real estate company for legalising a laundered sum of Rs50 billion that was identified and returned to Pakistan by the UK during the former premier’s tenure.

Qureshi, in his media talk, continued that he condemned the party chief’s arrest.

“This move is unethical, illegal and unconstitutional.  Imran Khan's arrest is linked to London,” he maintained.

The PTI vice chairman said Imran had already recorded a video in his vehicle while travelling for biometrics and expressed his concerns that he might be arrested.

“In fact, he had asked [the authorities] himself to arrest him,” he added.

Qureshi maintained that Imran was the former prime minister and the head of the largest party in the country.

“After his arrest, people started protesting in different parts [of the country],” he continued.

The PTI leader maintained that it was up to the people to bring an end to the ongoing lawlessness in the country and they should stand up against it.

“Only then will the country be able to become stable and prosperous,” he added.

Qureshi explained that he had arrived in Karachi to inquire after the health of his wife, who was admitted to a hospital in the city.

He added that he would now return to Islamabad.

“If it’s my turn to get arrested, the flag of leadership will go to someone else,” he said.

“Like in the morning, it was with Imran Khan and now it is with me. Perhaps by night, it might be with somebody else,” he concluded.