The Vice Chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, Shah Mahmood Qureshi, has been arrested in Islamabad, according to a statement made by the party on X (formerly Twitter). The PTI claims that Qureshi was illegally arrested by a large contingent of police from his residence in the federal capital. He was later taken to the Federal Investigation Agency’s (FIA) headquarters for questioning.
Qureshi’s arrest comes amidst an ongoing investigation by the FIA into a missing diplomatic cable that was allegedly taken from PTI Chief Imran Khan’s custody. Khan believes this missing cable is evidence of a foreign conspiracy to remove him as the Prime Minister. During a press conference earlier today, Qureshi confirmed that he recently met with foreign ambassadors, including the Australian high commissioner. He stated that the purpose of the meeting was to discuss the current political situation and express concerns about the security situation.
Following Qureshi’s arrest, PTI General Secretary Omar Ayub condemned the move, stating that he had hoped the era of lawlessness would end after the previous government’s exit. He accused the caretaker government of trying to surpass the fascist practices of their predecessors.
During his press conference, Qureshi also addressed allegations of internal divisions within the PTI leadership. He dismissed media reports of a split between himself and Ayub, stating that they were fabricated news meant to create confusion within the party. He affirmed that Imran Khan is still the chairman of the PTI, and there is no leadership struggle.
Qureshi also discussed the party’s plans to file a petition with the Supreme Court regarding the delay in general elections. He called on other political parties, such as the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam and PPP, to clarify their stance on the issue.
In response to Qureshi’s arrest, other PTI leaders expressed their condemnation. They claimed that he was arrested for expressing the party’s position in the press conference and for meeting with foreign ambassadors. They criticized the government for trying to silence dissenting voices and disregarding personal freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution.
This is not the first time Qureshi has faced arrest. He was previously detained in May for his involvement in protests following the arrest of Imran Khan. However, he was eventually released after court orders.
The PTI has stated that it will fully investigate claims of internal divisions within the party and take appropriate action.