AML leader taken to Islamabad’s Aabpara Police Station: Sheikh Rashid says his life is in danger, hints at filing contempt petition in Supreme Court: Imran Khan strongly condemns Sheikh Rashid’s arrest,
Islamabad_Awami Muslim League (AML) leader and former interior minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed was arrested and taken to the Aabpara Police Station in Islamabad in the wee hours of Thursday, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.
The dramatic development came after the Islamabad Capital police issued a final warning to the AML leader to appear before it over a complaint lodged against him.
There were reports that Sheikh Rashid was arrested from his residence, but other reports suggested that he was arrested from the Murree Motorway.
Sheikh Rashid also shared his picture on his Twitter account in which he can be seen sitting in the Abpara Police Station, Islamabad in a happy mood and smoking cigar.https://twitter.com/i/status/1620936467471269891
’Life in danger’
Talking to newsmen outside Polyclinic Hospital where he was taken by the police for a medical check-up after his arrest, Sheikh Rashid, a close aide of PTI Chairman and former prime minister Imran Khan, said his life was in danger.
Sheikh Rashid also hinted at filing a contempt of court petition in Supreme Court of Pakistan as he was arrested by police despite the fact that a court granted him bail and ordered the inspector-general of police to appear before the court on February 6.
After the medical test, the AML leader was shifted to Secretariat Police Station, Islamabad. The AML chief is expected to be produced before a magistrate later in the day.
Earlier, the police shifted Sheikh Rashid to Abpara Police Station after his arrest where an FIR (First Information Report) was registered against him on complaint of Raja Inayat Rehman, the vice president of PPP’s Rawalpindi division for accusing former president Asif Ali Zardari of plotting the assassination of PTI chief Imran Khan.
Talking to media after the arrest, Sheikh Rashid said that hundreds of police officials barged into his house on in the wee hours of Thursday without any warrants and arrested him. He also alleged that police have beaten his servants and broken the doors and windows of his house. He said an FIR has also filed against him after the arrest. He also alleged that Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah was behind his arrest.Sheikh Rashid’s nephew also confirmed his arrest, stating that they will challenge his uncle’s arrest in court. He said about 400 policemen barged into his house and arrested him despite the AML getting relief from the Islamabad High Court.
Imran Khan slams Sheikh Rashid’s arrest
PTI Chairman and former prime minister Imran Khan while strongly condemning Sheikh Rashid’s arrest said “Never in our history have we had such a biased, vindictive govt appointed by totally discredited Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).”
In a tweet uploaded after Sheikh Rashid’s arrest, he questioned if Pakistan could “afford a street movement which we are being pushed towards”.In a video message on Wednesday evening before the arrest, Sheikh Rashid had stated that the court had already instructed that this police “notice be withdrawn”.Later that same day, the Islamabad Capital Police tweeted that the “Supreme Court has ordered the senior law officer to appear, and that the matter is under hearing in the court, so no opinion can be given
“The order of the court is clear so avoid arbitrary interpretation. The concerned persons are requested not to distort the facts,” it tweeted.
The police complaint was lodged with senior superintendent of police (Operations) Islamabad and then forwarded to Aabpara police station for further action.
In response, the former minister was called by Aabpara police on Monday and Tuesday. However, both times, he did not appear before the police, they said, adding that now the police have asked Sheikh Rashid to appear before them on Wednesday.
“Sheikh Rashid Ahmed is not cooperating with the police inquiry,” the ICT Police wrote on its Twitter account on Tuesday (January 31).
Complaint against AML leader
Media reports stated earlier that the police acted after Pakistan Peoples Party’s (PPP) Rawalpindi Division Vice President Raja Inayat-ur-Rehman filed a case against the former federal minister in Islamabad’s Aabpara police station.
The case was over hurling allegations at former Pakistan president Asif Ali Zardari for hatching a plot to assassinate PTI chief Imran Khan.
The case was filed with SSP Operations Islamabad, and stated that Sheikh Rashid, in an interview on a news channel that aired on January 27, alleged that Asif Zardari got assistance of some terrorist to kill Imran Khan while talking about a conspiracy.
The complaint added that the statement was made as part of a conspiracy to defame Zardari and create a permanent threat for his family.
The complaint added that the statement was made as part of a conspiracy to defame Zardari and create a permanent threat for his family.
However, Sheikh Rashid said that he had said on different TV channels that the government wished to “minus” Imran. “I was interviewed on various TV channels where I said they (the federal government) wanted to disqualify Imran, minus Imran.
“Imran stated that Asif Zardari wanted to take his life. Zardari is not ready to contest elections with Imran.”
However, Sheikh Rashid said that he had said on different TV channels that the government wished to “minus” Imran. “I was interviewed on various TV channels where I said they (the federal government) wanted to disqualify Imran, minus Imran.
“Imran stated that Asif Zardari wanted to take his life. Zardari is not ready to contest elections with Imran.”
