PTI senior leader and chief of staff of former prime minister Imran Khan, Dr. Shahbaz Gill was arrested in Islamabad on Tuesday. Gill was taken into custody when he was going to Bani Gala to meet PTI chairman Imran Khan.
PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry has alleged that Gill was taken into custody by the personnel in civil dress and he was tortured at Bani Gala Chowk. This is Gil’s second arrested in recent months. On July 17, the Punjab police arrested Shahbaz Gill in Muzaffargarh for allegedly visiting different polling stations during the by-elections in the city with his security guards who were dressed as FC personnel. He was later released on the orders of a district magistrate.
Federal government stand:
Addressing a press conference in Islamabad on Tuesday alongside Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah said that PTI leader Shehbaz Gill was arrested in a case registered against him by the state in Islamabad.
He said that a first information report was lodged against Gill in Kohsar Police Station under sections 505, 120, 120-B, 153, 153-A, 124-A and 131 of the Pakistan Penal Code. The interior minister claimed that PTI hatched a conspiracy with a private channel after being caught up in the storm of Toshakhana and prohibited funding cases.
He reiterated that former prime minister Imran Khan is trying to mislead and divide the nation.
“Per a conspiracy, a narrative was constructed around the Lasbela tragedy,” Sanaullah said, adding that it was then entrusted to two people including Fawad Chaudhry and Shahbaz Gill in connivance with the private television channel.
Rana Sanaullah Tuesday said that Gil’s comments — on the basis of which he has been taken into custody — were a part of the planned conspiracy to create division within the military.
The interior minister said that the comments were according to the script prepared under the leadership of PTI Chairperson Imran Khan which was carried forward by former information minister Fawad Chaudhry and Gil.
Police’s stance:
According to Islamabad police, Shahbaz Gill has been taken into custody for making statements against the state institutions and inciting the people to rebel. According to police sources, a case under treason laws has been registered against Gill in Kohsar police station on the complaint of the district administration. The sources further said that the case has been registered under Sections 124-A (sedition), 505 (statements conducing to public mischief), and of the Pakistan Penal Code. Gill has been accused of spreading chaos, inciting people against the state along with other serious allegations.
Imran Khan’s reaction:
PTI Chairman Imran Khan has termed Gill’s arrest as “abduction”. Imran Khan shared the video statement of Gill’s driver who claimed that the PTI leader was tortured and dragged out of the car.
“This is an abduction, not an arrest. Can such shameful acts take place in any democracy? Political workers are treated as enemies. And all to make us accept a foreign-backed government of crooks,” Khan said.
