PML-N leader and former Finance Minister Miftah Ismail has spoken against the recent arrest of PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry.
A local court in Islamabad has remanded PTI Vice President Fawad Chaudhry in police custody for two days in a case related to using threatening language against the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) members.
Reacting to the development, Miftah Ismail said that Fawad Chaudhry should not have threatened ECP members, however, instead of arresting him, the authorities should have served him a notice first.
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“Imran Khan was wrong to jail us for months without charge, only because we opposed him. Fawad Chaudhry was of course wrong to threaten ECP officials and families. He should have been served a notice. Fawad should not have been arrested and handcuffed,” said Miftah Ismail.
IK was wrong to jail us for months without charge only—-because we opposed him.
Fawad Chaudary was of course wrong to threaten ECP officials and families. He should have been served a notice.
Fawad should not have been arrested and handcuffed.
— Miftah Ismail (@MiftahIsmail) January 26, 2023
In a surprise move, Fawad Chaudhry was arrested outside his residence in Lahore in the early hours of Wednesday. Islamabad police confirmed the arrest, stating that Fawad Chaudhry tried to “incite violence against a constitutional institution” and “inflame the sentiments of the people”.
The PTI leader has been booked under sections 153-A (promotion of enmity between groups), 506 (criminal intimidation), 505 (statement conducing to public mischief), and 124-A (sedition) of the Pakistan Penal Code.
The arrest of PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry elicited condemnation from across the political spectrum, as a number of journalists, politicians, and members of civil society criticized law enforcers for whisking away the former information minister from his house in Lahore.
Ex-senator Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar said that the ECP has become so “touchy” that it is filing police complaints over statements made by politicians. “Such actions will damage what is left of its reputation.” He asked that when the commission has powers of contempt, then “why get him arrested by the police”? “Is the Election Commission now a sensitive institution?” he quipped.
Read more: Strong reactions pour in over arrest of Fawad Chaudhry