PTI leader Asad Umar arrested from IHC premises

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) secretary general Asad Umar was arrested from the premises of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday, a day after party chief Imran Khan was arrested from there.

Umar was reportedly arrested by the Islamabad police from the gate near the IHC’s writ branch.

This is how @Asad_Umar was abducted under the court’s premises. Law of the jungle ruling in Pakistan now. #ReleaseImranKhan pic.twitter.com/UrA3NL5XwF

— PTI (@PTIofficial) May 10, 2023

According to PTI lawyer Advocate Faisal Chaudhry, the former minister was arrested from the “small gate” of the court. The lawyer further stated that he did not know under which case the arrest was made.

Referring to the PTI leader's arrest, the party, on its official Twitter account, termed it another arrest "under the court premises by this fascist regime”.

Again an arrest under the court premises by this fascist regime. The Courts are not respected anymore in this country, democracy is completely suspended.

Pakistan’s awam can only save this country, you must come out. #ReleaseImranKhan pic.twitter.com/AIJ5GjX2qg

— PTI (@PTIofficial) May 10, 2023

“The courts are not respected anymore in this country, democracy is completely suspended,” it said, urging the nation to “come out” and “save this country”.

Read PTI leaders urge supporters to protest Imran's arrest

PTI leader and former human rights minister Shireen Mazari said that Asad Umar was "arrested by [the] anti-terror squad from IHC".

"Seems IHC area has become a fertile ground to illegally arrest PTI leaders," she said.

Now Asad Umar SG of PTI has been arrested by anti terror squad from IHC. Seems IHC area has become a fertile ground to illegally arrest PTI ldrs. Fascism confirmed. They can't get the terrorists but PTI ldrs are now terrorists for cabal of crooks & the State? This is despicable.

— Shireen Mazari (@ShireenMazari1) May 10, 2023

"Fascism confirmed. They can't get the terrorists but PTI leaders are now terrorists for [the] cabal of crooks and the State?" Mazari questioned, calling the situation "despicable".

Qureshi refutes arrest rumours

Meanwhile, senior party leader Shah Mehmood Qureshi rejected reports of his arrest, saying that all kinds of tactics are being used to create panic and spread misinformation.

“I have not yet been arrested,” Qureshi said in a tweet from his verified Twitter account.

“All kinds of tactics are being used to spread misinformation and create terror and panic among our party’s supporters,” he added. “I warn you, this is a big mistake! The Pakistani nation will not sit idle in their homes. No fear!”

In a statement issued from inside the court, the former information minister said that, "We are inside the Supreme Court building to challenge the arrest of Imran Khan. I got my own order from the Islamabad High Court, which declares that the police cannot arrest without informing the court. Despite clear orders of protective bail, the police is all set to flout court orders and arrest me. They are outside the SC building and waiting for me to come out."

In a startling development on Tuesday, PTI chairman and deposed premier Imran Khan was arrested in the Al-Qadir Trust case from the premises of the IHC, where he was present for two hearings.

This move was followed by raids at the homes of and arrests of PTI leaders, including former Punjab governor Omar Sarfaraz Cheema.

Cheema was arrested during the wee hours of Wednesday morning in a raid at his house by the Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) Punjab.

(An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated that Shah Mehmood Qureshi has been arrested. The error is regretted.)