PTI leaders arrested in police crackdown in Islamabad

ISLAMABAD: The federal capital police on Monday evening started a crackdown on leaders of the embattled PTI and arrested its leaders, including Members National Assembly (MNAs) and Chairman Gohar Ali Khan, Sher Afzal Marwat and Shuab Shaheen.

Gohar Khan and Marwat were picked and taken away from outside Parliament House while Shaheen was held from his residence in Islamabad. The police said more leaders of the party would be arrested for violating a new law under which the PTI had been given permission for holding the public gathering at Sangjani area of Islamabad on Sunday night.

Police said Omer Ayub and Zartaj Gul would also be arrested soon for violating the new law on peaceful public gatherings in Islamabad and attacking and injuring police.  They were also accused of violating the routes designated for the participants of the public gathering on Sunday. The PTI also violated the timings of the event and did not conclude it on time.

According to TV reports, the federal government has also directed the Punjab police to arrest PTI leaders whose lists have been sent to Lahore.

Sources said a total of 28 PTI leaders have been nominated in the case registered against them for violating the new law on holding of public rallies in Islamabad and attacking police.