The official photographer of PTI Chairman and former Prime Minister Imran Khan has been arrested from the Islamabad High Court (IHC) by “unknown men”.
A video of the arrest is going viral on social media as PTI leaders condemn the move. Imran Khan’s official photographer can be seen being dragged away by men in civilian clothes. He can also be heard pleading with them to let him go.
Read more: Members of PTI’s social media team face crackdown
Questions are also being raised on the identity of the men who took away Imran Khan’s official photographer, since they were not in police uniforms, prompting concerns that the photographer may have been “abducted”.
Footage : Imran Khan’s official photographer being abducted pic.twitter.com/uTIjdGMZO6
— Dr. Iftikhar Durrani (@IftikharDurani) March 27, 2023
“It is shameful how PTI workers are being arrested in Islamabad today. Why are people not in even in uniform putting our people in prison vans?” PTI’s official Twitter account said while sharing the video.
“Plain clothes men, clearly not police, arresting PTI workers? Why? Who authorizes them? Will courts open at night to look at this State within State phenomenon?” senior journalist Moeed Pirzada said.
Plain clothes men, clearly not Police, arresting PTI workers? Why? Who authorizes them? Will Courts open at nights to look at this "State within State" phenomenon? https://t.co/RyH9DLqv9R
— Moeed Pirzada (@MoeedNj) March 27, 2023
https://twitter.com/AmnahJPlus/status/1640266955453079558?s=20
Imran Khan on Monday reached Islamabad High Court (IHC) to seek bail before arrest in seven cases registered against him. The PTI chief had reached Islamabad from Lahore. Multiple cases were registered against the former prime minister at Islamabad’s Ramna, CTD, and Golra police stations.
Ahead of Imran Khan’s appearance at IHC, the police began arresting PTI workers who arrived there to show solidarity with their Chairman. The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) Monday barred the television channels from live and recorded coverage of rallies or public gatherings by any party, organisation, or individual being held in the federal capital today.
Read more: US senator raises concern over political violence in Pakistan
Following the Zaman Park clashes and vandalism at Judicial Complex, the government has intensified its crackdown on PTI. Over 200 PTI workers have been booked under charges of interfering in state matters and violation of Section 144. 316 PTI workers were arrested while the houses of senior PTI leaders were also raided.
The government has come under intense criticism for what is being termed as a deliberate crackdown against PTI which is currently Pakistan’s most popular political party and incidentally the largest.