By On Monday night, Islamabad police arrested PTI leaders Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, Sher Afzal Khan Marwat, and Advocate Shoaib Shaheen outside the Parliament House. Islamabad police spokesperson Jawad Taqi confirmed the arrests to Dawn.com.
The PTI condemned the arrests, calling them a direct attack on democracy and criticizing the PML-N government for the move. PTI claimed the arrests were part of “illegal orders” and urged the Islamabad Inspector General of Police to intervene. PTI’s posts on X expressed outrage, labeling the arrests as a significant blow to democracy and accusing the Speaker of the National Assembly of failing to protect parliamentary dignity.
Marwat’s account on X described the arrest as a demonstration of the state’s fear of Imran Khan and his supporters, asserting that his only “crime” was his support for Khan and his advocacy for democracy and the rule of law.
Opposition leader Omar Ayub Khan also condemned the arrests, alleging that Islamabad Police were targeting him, PTI leader Zartaj Gul Wazir, and other colleagues. Khan described the regime as “fascist” and claimed that PTI lawmakers were trapped inside Parliament House due to the heavy police presence.
PTI leader Zulfi Bukhari criticized the arrests, arguing they would only increase public anger towards the government. The Islamabad High Court Bar Association joined the condemnation, calling for the immediate release of Marwat and Advocate Shaheen and the withdrawal of all cases against them.
The arrests followed a PTI rally in Islamabad on September 8, which led to clashes between PTI supporters and police. PTI supporters allegedly ignored traffic instructions and clashed with the police, resulting in baton charges and tear gas. PML-N Senator Talal Chaudhry vowed legal action against Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur for leading the supporters in an attack on police.
Ahead of the rally, the Islamabad administration had implemented strict security measures, including blocking entry points with containers, to control the situation.
