Fawad arrested, taken to ‘unknown place’: wife

Arrest based on FIR alleging involvement in staging party protests

Former federal minister Fawad Chaudhry was arrested in Islamabad on Saturday, confirmed the former PTI leader's wife.

Hiba Chaudhry took to X (formerly Twitter) this afternoon to announce that her husband was arrested, adding that his whereabouts were "unknown".

Fawad's brother, Faisal Chaudhry, also confirmed the news.

Fawad Arrested and taken to unknown place.

— Hiba Fawad Chaudhary (@HibaFawadPk) November 4, 2023

Hearing a plea filed against the former information minister's arrest and seeking his recovery, the magistrate of the Kohsar police station, Ahmed Shehzad Gondal, directed the police to submit a report regarding the matter.

Sources revealed that Fawad was apprehended by numerous Islamabad police officers while having breakfast in a park adjacent to his residence.

Read Court suspends ECP’s warrant against Fawad

His arrest was based on a First Information Report (FIR) filed at the Abpara police station in Islamabad, alleging his involvement in staging party protests and creating roadblocks. The FIR was lodged on August 20.

It accused the PTI leader of not only causing disruption through rally and sloganeering but also intimidating citizens, violating law.

This is the second time in this year that the former PTI leader has been arrested. His arrest also comes a day after another senior party leader, Asad Qaiser, was arrested from his residence.

In September this year, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) had dismissed the former information minister's petition to nullify the contempt case against him by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).

Fawad had challenged the ECP’s action against him on two forums. He had also issued a verbal apology to the ECP in July when a four-member commission headed by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja was presiding over the contempt proceedings.

Following the May 9 riots, the senior politician parted ways with the PTI and its chairman Imran Khan.

"[With] ref[erence] to my earlier statement where I unequivocally condemned 9th May incidents, I have decided to take a break from politics, therefore, I have resigned from party position and parting ways from Imran Khan," he wrote on his official Twitter handle.