An anti-terrorism court (ATC) has allowed two-day physical remand of Imran Ismail, former Sindh governor and senior leader of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), in a case involving rioting in the aftermath of his party chief Imran Khan's arrest on May 9.
The Tipu Sultan police brought Imran Ismail, who was arrested on Friday, to the ATC in an armoured personnel carrier (APC) under tight security to seek his physical remand.
Pleading before the court, the investigating officer (IO) stated that the PTI leader faces charges of leading a mob that ran riots on May 9, setting fire to the government property to create terror in the city. The IO requested the court for grant of physical remand of the suspect for further investigation.
The court granted the IO request and sought a progress report at the next hearing.
While speaking informally with the media after his court appearance, Imran Ismail dismissed the allegations against him. "I wasn't there when the rioting happened," he said, adding that there was no pressure on him to quit the PTI.
The former governor was arrested on Friday as the law enforcers intensified a nationwide hunt for those who had vandalized government and security forces buildings during rioting following the arrest Imran Khan on May 9. Most top leaders of the party have already been taken into custody.
Separately, ATC handed over Mustafa Afridi, Union Council (UC) Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to the police on four-day physical remand in the case of rioting during the protest after the arrest of former prime minister Imran Khan.
Mustafa Afridi said in an informal conversation in the court premises, "We were kept at an unknown location, yesterday we were handed over to Tipu Sultan police. A school teacher has been booked for terrorism and handcuffed."
He said, "The mayoral election is about to be held, that is why these things (arrests of PTI members) are happening. By arresting us in this way, an attempt is being made to take us away from our mission, vision and from our leader Imran Khan."
Published in The Express Tribune, May 23rd, 2023.
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