Omar Ayub’s house in Islamabad raided

Sargodha ATC issues arrest warrants for NA opposition leader

ISLAMABAD:

Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly and PTI Secretary General Omar Ayub Khan’s residence in Islamabad was raided on Sunday by the Mianwali police in collaboration with their counterparts in the federal capital but he evaded the arrest as he was not present there.

The police conducted the raid at Ayub’s F-10 residence in Islamabad a day after an anti-terrorism court in Sargodha issued his arrest warrants. The leader of the opposition in the NA is wanted in connection with a case related to terrorism.

Taking to social media platform X, Ayub confirmed the development, saying that the Islamabad and Mianwali police had raided his house. “The ATC Sargodha has issued bailable arrest warrants against me.”

Ayub maintained that the federal and Punjab government, in collaboration with their agencies, were desperately trying to arrest him because of his involvement in the “Form 47” campaign – a political manoeuvre aimed at destabilising the current set-up.

“Let there be no doubt that we will continue our lawful struggle until [former] PM Imran Khan [PTI founding chairman] is the prime minister, [again],” he continued.

The PTI has found itself engaged in legal battles ever since its ouster from power in April 2022 as it launched a countrywide anti-government movement. Matters grew worse for the PTI on May 9 last year when the installations of the security establishment were attacked allegedly by enraged party activists and supporters after the law-enforcement authorities arrested the party founder from the premises of the Islamabad High Court on the charges of corruption.

Back then, the PTI declared that arresting Imran would be tantamount to crossing its red line. Following the attacks on its installations including its martyrs’ memorials, the military declared May 9 as a “Black Day”, describing it as a “dark chapter” of the country’s history.

As for Ayub, the PTI parliamentary faction last month disagreed with Imran’s initial decision to accept his resignation as the party’s secretary general, urging its reversal and reappointing him back to his position.

This demand came within 24 hours of the imprisoned PTI founding chairman endorsing Ayub’s decision to step down from the party post so that he could “focus on his role as the leader of the opposition in the NA”.

Amid reports of internal rifts and confusion within the PTI, Ayub’s resignation added to the uncertainty. Later, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, following directives from Imran, announced that Ayub’s resignation as the party secretary general had been rejected.