On Monday night, Islamabad police arrested Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, Sher Afzal Khan Marwat, and Advocate Shoaib Shaheen outside Parliament. The arrest was confirmed by a police spokesperson, Jawad Taqi, to Dawn.com.
Sher Afzal Khan Marwat was reportedly the first to be arrested. PTI, in a post on X (formerly Twitter), criticized the arrest, calling it a shameful act by the PML-N government. The party stated that this arrest of a sitting Member of National Assembly (MNA) was a direct attack on democracy. PTI accused the Islamabad police of following “illegal orders” and demanded that the Inspector General (IG) of Islamabad Police halt these actions.
In another X post, PTI condemned the “illegal” arrest of Barrister Gohar. The party described the event as a moment of disgrace for the entire Parliament, viewing it as a threat to the remaining democratic values in Pakistan. They also called on the Speaker of the National Assembly to take responsibility, accusing him of allowing the disrespect of Parliament. PTI further criticized the government, alleging Pakistan was descending into an undeclared Martial Law.
Marwat himself expressed his frustration through a statement on X, stating that the government’s actions only proved how much they feared PTI chairman Imran Khan and his supporters. He emphasized that he had been treated harshly despite not being a terrorist or murderer, asserting that his only crime was his loyalty to Imran Khan, his support for the poor, and his advocacy for democracy and the rule of law.
Omar Ayub Khan, Leader of the Opposition, also condemned the arrests. He accused Islamabad Police of forming teams to arrest him, PTI leader Zartaj Gul Wazir, and other colleagues. In his statement on X, Omar said, “This fascist regime and its backers have gone completely mad,” adding that he had learned his name, along with Zartaj Gul’s, had been added to two additional First Information Reports (FIRs). He revealed that PTI lawmakers remained trapped inside Parliament House, unable to leave due to the heavy police presence outside. Omar expressed that their only crime was challenging the status quo and supporting their leader, Imran Khan.
PTI leader Zulfi Bukhari also condemned the arrests, demanding the immediate release of those detained. He remarked on X that the government’s repeated use of the same tactics for over a year had failed, and these actions only fueled public anger and resentment toward the government and its supporters.
The Islamabad High Court Bar Association joined the protest, condemning the arrests of its members, Marwat and Advocate Shoaib Shaheen. The association called for their immediate release and for all charges against them to be dropped. PTI lawyer Ali Ijaz Buttar shared the association’s statement on X.
The arrests followed PTI’s highly anticipated rally in Islamabad on September 8. The rally sparked widespread attention, particularly due to violent clashes between PTI supporters and the police. PML-N Senator Talal Chaudhry announced plans for legal action against Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, accusing him of leading PTI supporters in an attack against Islamabad police during the rally.
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In a televised statement, PML-N Senator Chaudhry criticized the rally, accusing PTI supporters of deliberately attacking the police despite no obstacles being placed in their path. He stated that the law would take its course, and those responsible for the violence would be arrested. He also predicted that Gandapur’s future involved jail time at Adiala Prison.
Chaudhry reiterated that political incitement would not be tolerated, warning that the government was prepared to enact further legislation or harsher punishments to prevent such actions in the future.
Ahead of the PTI rally, the Islamabad administration had taken significant security measures, including blocking the city’s entry points with containers to prevent any unrest.
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