Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Asad Qaiser has been arrested from his residence in Islamabad’s Bani Gala area, the former National Assembly speaker’s brother said on Friday.
Sources said that Qaiser — who is a staunch supporter of PTI Chairman Imran Khan — was taken into custody by police and Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) personnel for alleged corrupt practices related to purchase of medical equipment for Gajju Khan Medical College in Swabi.
Sources said that Qaiser is being shifted to Bani Gala Police Station, where he will be handed over to the ACE officials.
They said that the PTI stalwart faces allegations of illegal appointments in the educational institutions.
PTI condemned Qaiser’s arrest, calling it a bid to “affect the transparency of elections”, which are set to be staged on February 8, 2024, as ordered by the Supreme Court after the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and President Arif Alvi agreed on the said date.
“Asad Qaiser’s arrest is a question mark on the role of the election commission in staging fair polls. The series of leaders’ arrests is a conspiracy to keep PTI out of the election race,” the party spokesperson said.
The spox called on the ECP to ensure the provision of equal opportunities to all political parties to contest in elections. He also announced the decision to challenge Qaiser’s arrest on a judicial forum.
After much delay and obstacles, a date for general elections — which have been long due since the dissolution of assemblies in August — was finally decided on Thursday after President Alvi and Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja unanimously agreed on the aforementioned date.
Today, the Supreme Court ordered the government to ensure the conduct of general elections on February 8, stating that no party has any objection to holding elections on this date.
Qaiser’s arrest comes as another setback for the Khan-led party, which is already embroiled in legal battles as its top leadership remains behind bars in different cases.
