PTI Senior Vice President Dr Shireen Mazari was arrested from her residence in Islamabad in the wee hours of Friday as a crackdown on PTI leaders continue.
According to the details by Iman Mazari, Shireen Mazari’s daughter, around 50 policemen raided their house and arrested her mother. Iman also claimed that the doors of their house were broken by the policemen.
The PTI leader has been shifted to Abpara police station. Video of her arrest was also shared on social media, showing Shireen Mazari being escorted by female police officers.
As she was being escorted to a police vehicle, Mazari raised a victory sign, saying “victory for democracy”, while condemning “state terrorism” as unacceptable.
Shireen Mazari former federal minister for human rights abducted from her house illegally. Complete violation of human rights in Pakistan by Fascist regime. https://t.co/syMKNInCB7
— Farrukh Habib (@FarrukhHabibISF) May 12, 2023
Shireen Mazari’s arrest comes after a series of arrests of several other PTI leaders, including Imran Khan, Asad Umar, Fawad Chaudhry, Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Ali Mohammad Khan, and Senator Ejaz Chaudhry. All of these leaders other than Imran Khan were arrested under section three of the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO).
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According to a PTI statement, former Punjab health minister Dr Yasmin Rashid has also been arrested. PTI leader Andaleeb Abbas said that the former minister was hiding to avoid arrest.
Unrest after Imran Khan’s arrest
Following the arrest of PTI Chairman Imran Khan, protests erupted across the country as PTI supporters took to the streets, clashing with the police and attacking state property.
The dire situation escalated as the public expressed their anger by destroying civil and military property, burning tires on the streets, and even setting fire to the building of Radio Pakistan in Peshawar and the Corp Commander House in Lahore.
The Islamabad police said it has detained 298 people for arson and acts of violence so far. Sixteen cases have been registered for arson and damage to private and government property.
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