PML-N leader Safdar arrested from hotel in Karachi

KARACHI: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader and son-in-law of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif Captain (retd) Safdar was arrested from a hotel in Karachi on Monday morning.

In a statement on Twitter, Maryam Nawaz claimed that the police forcefully entered her hotel room earlier today and arrested her husband. “Police broke my room door at the hotel I was staying at in Karachi and arrested Capt. Safdar,” she said.

I was in the room, sleeping, when they barged in. https://t.co/1gMEHHUnPx

— Maryam Nawaz Sharif (@MaryamNSharif) October 19, 2020

PTI minister Ali Zaidi appreciated the quick action taken by IG Sindh “against the the hooligans who disrespected Mazar-e-Quaid.” However, he refuted her claim saying “Maryam is once again lying that the hotel door was broken.”

He warned the Sindh chief secretary and Sindh Inspector General of Police Mushtaq Mahar that action must be taken against the “hooligans who created ruckus” at the Quaid’s mausoleum.

“If they are allowed to leave Karachi, you will be directly held responsible for letting them escape. You will be considered as aiders and abettors in the crime,” he said in a tweet.

Appreciate the quick action taken by IG Sindh against the the hooligans who disrespected Mazar-e-Quaid.
Law must take its course.
Maryum once again lying that the hotel door was broken. Video shows otherwise. Do u see any handcuffs? Does it look like he was arrested by force? pic.twitter.com/7DLHTiw2kA

— Ali Haider Zaidi (@AliHZaidiPTI) October 19, 2020

Sindh govt distances itself

Senior PML-N leader Mohammad Zubair, while speaking to reporters in Karachi, claimed that Safdar’s arrest was a “sting operation by the state” and was carried out to damage the PDM alliance.

He said he had talked to Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah and PPP Minister Saeed Ghani and would reveal the facts before the public soon. He said the easiest way for Imran Khan is to arrest Safdar so the entire blame falls on Sindh government and police.

Sindh minister Saeed Ghani said that while Captain Safdar’s behaviour was inappropriate, the way his arrest was carried out was condemnable. He claimied this was being done to create a rift among PDM and the Sindh government had no role in his arrest.

Information Minister Shibli Faraz, while speaking to reporters at Peshawar Press Club, said that every Pakistani was offended by what happened at the Quaid’s mausoleum.

He said that Safdar and Maryam Nawaz created a ruckus and disrespected the sanctity of the founder of Pakistan, adding that this arrest had nothing to do with politics.

I was not expecting it but I am glad Sindh Police has enforced the law and arrested Capt Safdar. He committed a crime at the mazar e Quaid yesterday and law must take its course https://t.co/GxxHK20qrK

— Shafqat Mahmood (@Shafqat_Mahmood) October 19, 2020

Minister for Federal Education Shafqat Mehmood said the Sindh Police has enforced the law and arrested Capt Safdar. “He committed a crime at the Mazar-e-Quaid yesterday and law must take its course.”

Federal Minister for Planning and Development Asad Umar also demanded the PML-N to apologise to the nation for “disrespecting the sanctity of the Quaid’s mausoleum”.

PTI minister Shireen Mazari, responding to criticism of the arrest, shared a picture of rules. “There are rules and laws in place to observe sanctity of the Mazar. And these laws were not devised by PTI govt,” she said.

Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry said the arrest was in accordance with the law, adding that the Quaid’s mausoleum “was not a playground for lowly politicians”.

But there are rules and laws in place to observe sanctity of the Mazar. And these laws were not devised by PTI govt! https://t.co/PrsDbI2f7v pic.twitter.com/vmyp1aPb1q

— Shireen Mazari (@ShireenMazari1) October 19, 2020

Safdar, PML-N raise slogans

The PML-N leader was taken into custody after he was booked in a case pertaining to the violation of the sanctity of the mausoleum of Quaid-e-Azam. Safdar had crossed the metal barrier towards the grave of the founding father and chanted political slogans and urged supporters to join him.

Safdar chanted the slogan “vote ko izzat do (honour the vote)” and urged people to join him. Many party activists responded to his call and chanted along for an extended period of time as Maryam Nawaz looked on.

Government representatives demanded an apology and approached the police to initiate legal action against all those who participated in the act and violated the sanctity of the mausoleum. The police lodged a case on the complaint of a citizen at Karachi Brigade police station.

Several PTI representatives, including Haleem Adil Shaikh and Raja Azhar, also approached the Brigade police station on Sunday to lodge a case against the PML-N leadership including Capt Safdar, Maryam Nawaz and party spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb.

They stated that PML-N leadership violated the sanctity of the mausoleum by crossing the metal barrier placed around the grave and chanted slogans that not only disrespected the site but also hurt the sentiments of the people. The request asked that legal proceedings be undertaken against about 200 people present there who took part in the act.