Tag: Asad Umar

  • Not in contact with Tareen, Fawad stays in touch: Asad Umar

    Former Secretary General of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Asad Umar has said that he has no contact with Jahangir Tareen but does stay in contact with former colleague Fawad Chaudhry.

    Talking to journalists outside a court in Islamabad, Asad Umar said that Tareen, who is rumoured to be forming a political party, has not contacted him.

    However, he did say that Fawad Chaudhry “remains in touch with me from time to time.”

    Asad Umar is one of the few central leaders who have not quit PTI. But, on May 24, he did resign from his post and from the core committee of the party.

  • ‘They will not let you go without a press conference’; court orders Asad Umar’s immediate release

    ‘They will not let you go without a press conference’; court orders Asad Umar’s immediate release

    The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday morning accepted Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Asad Umar’s plea for bail and ordered that he be released immediately.

    However, Justice Gul Hasan Aurangzeb passed cryptic remarks to Asad Umar’s lawyer Babar Awan, stating that, “They will not let you go until you hold a press conference.”

    To which Babar Awan replied, “We are not going to hold a press conference.”

    The remarks seem to be in reference to PTI members holding press conferences to either denounce the May 9 attacks on military installations or announce that they are leaving PTI.

    On Tuesday, Shireen Mazari said in a short press conference that she’s leaving PTI and politics too, citing what her children went through during her detention.

    The IHC has ordered Asad Umar to delete two tweets and give in writing that he will not take part in protests.

    Justice Aurangzeb warned that if Asad Umar renegades on his affidavit to the court, he should be prepared to forget about his political career.

  • PTI leaders who have been arrested so far

    PTI leaders who have been arrested so far

    After Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan’s arrest from Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday, authorities have not spared his party members either.

    Following is the list of all leaders of the former ruling party who have been arrested so far:

    1- Asad Umar

    On Wednesday, PTI Secretary General Asad Umar was arrested from the premises of the IHC — the same court from where his chief was taken into custody.

    According to eyewitnesses, PTI lawyers fought with the police to prevent Umar’s arrest, but the law enforcers overpowered them and took the PTI leader away. He was booked in two cases registered against him and other PTI leaders following the protests that ensued after Khan’s arrest.

    2- Shah Mahmood Qureshi

    On Thursday morning, PTI senior Vice President Shah Mahmood Qureshi was arrested for “inciting violent protests” after Khan’s arrest.

    PTI also shared a video of Qureshi’s arrest. The party claimed that the ex-foreign minister had been taken to an undisclosed location.

    3- Fawad Chaudhry

    Chaudhry was finally apprehended by the police as he emerged from the Supreme Court building late on Wednesday night, where he had sought refuge for over 12 hours in an attempt to evade his impending arrest.

    4- Omar Cheema

    Former Punjab Governor Omar Sarfaraz Cheema was arrested on Wednesday during a raid at his house by the Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) Punjab.

    5- Aliya Hamza

    According to ARY News, former Member of the National Assembly (MNA) Aliya Hamza Malik was arrested in Islamabad from her residence on Wednesday.

    6- Maleeka Bokhari

    According to reports, authorities have picked up former MNA Maleeka from Islamabad

    Other than this, Jamshed Iqbal Cheema, Falaknaz Chitrali and Musarrat Jamshed Cheema have been arrested so far.

    7- Ejaz Chaudhry

    Senator got arrested on Thursday after Khan’s arrest.

    8- Ali Muhammad Khan

    On Thursday, Ali Muhummad Khan got arrested.

    9- Shireen Mazari

    In the early hours of Friday, the former human rights minister was arrested from her home in Islamabad. According to reports, she has been taken to Adiala Jail.

    10- Dr Yasmin Rashid

    Similarly, around the same time, the former provincial minister was arrested from Lahore. Her whereabouts are unknown.

    This is a developing story as it is feared that more leaders may get arrested soon.

  • Asad Umar suggests that Asim Munir and Khan should be locked in one room so they can talk

    Asad Umar suggests that Asim Munir and Khan should be locked in one room so they can talk

    Senior leader of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Asad Umar has suggested that Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir and his party’s chief Imran Khan should have a one-on-one discussion in a room and that room should be locked so they can sort out the matter alone.

    Speaking on Meher Bokhari’s show on ARY News: Khabar, Umar said that an open discussion should take place and whatever reservations they have for each other, should be placed on the table.

    He also noted that it is possible that there are some actors who are trying to create distance between Imran and General Munir.

    When asked about Khan’s recent allegations against General Faisal Naseer, Umar admitted Khan has serious reservations about him, however, he doesn’t have a problem with the establishment.

    It is pertinent to mention that Khan’s repeated criticism of the establishment has created barriers for him to now amend his relations with the institution.

    Last week Khan levelled serious allegations that General Faisal had plotted his assassination attempt. He also alleged that he is behind journalist Arshad Sharif’s murder and Swati’s custodial torture.

  • ‘Violation of constitution’: PTI to move SC against election postponement

    ‘Violation of constitution’: PTI to move SC against election postponement

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Fawad Chaudhry has confirmed that his party will challenge the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) decision to postpone general elections in Punjab from April 30 to October 8 in the Supreme Court of Pakistan.

    Addressing a joint press conference on Thursday, Chaudhry, along with PTI Secretary General Asad Umar, announced that they are moving the top court against the ECP for “breaching the Constitution”.

    “It is your duty to save the Constitution,” Chaudhry appealed to the judges of the top court, adding that the joint sitting of parliament convened on Wednesday was aimed at an “attack on the Supreme Court”.

    “Judges are being blackmailed and pressurised,” Chaudhry claimed. He also said that the country demands that Article 6 should be applied on five members of the electoral watchdog.  

    PTI Chairman Imran Khan condemned ECP’s move to postpone the election in Punjab, as the party announced to move the Supreme Court against “violation of the Constitution”.

    It is pertinent to mention here that electoral watchdog postponed the elections in view of the recent spate of terrorist attacks in various parts of the country.

    The order said that the interior ministry conveyed to the ECP that the deployment of civil and armed forces would not be possible due to the “spike in incidents of terrorism across the country” and threat alerts from intelligence agencies.

  • ‘Tell Khan to give in’: Yasmin Rashid allegedly asks President to intervene and talk to Khan

    ‘Tell Khan to give in’: Yasmin Rashid allegedly asks President to intervene and talk to Khan

    Amidst the clash between police, rangers and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) supporters, a second alleged audio leak of former provincial Health Minister Dr. Yasmin Rashid has surfaced online.

    In the alleged audio, Rashid is in conversation with President Dr Arif Alvi, asking him to intervene in the crisis at Zaman Park.

    The audio leak is transcribed as follows;

    Rashid: Sir, the situation is very bad here.

    Dr Alvi: Yes, absolutely.

    Rashid: Our workers have started throwing Molotov cocktails. Before bloodshed takes place, I think you need to talk to someone and intervene.

    Dr Alvi: I have talked.

    Rashid: You should tell him that you will talk to him and try to sort… to Khan sahab.

    Dr Alvi: I don’t understand what you’re saying.

    Rashid: Sir, the situation right now is that people may die, some policemen will be killed. The situation will worsen so much that the elections will be postponed. This was our purpose.

    Dr Alvi: Okay.

    Rashid: I think what you need to do is, tell him [Khan sahab], that he should give in and fight another day. This is what I think and the rest is up to you. He will not give up.

    Rashid: Petrol bombs were thrown. I am intentionally sitting outside. I had to call people.

    Dr Arif: Let me consult Asad Umar.

    Rashid: I talked with Asad, he asked me not to say anything. We both are sitting outside.

    Dr Alvi: Okay.

    Rashid: I think you should talk with Shah Saab [Shah Mahmood Qureshi]. He is sitting inside with Khan.

    Dr Alvi: Okay.

    Earlier in the day, Rashid in another alleged audio leak told former Federal Minister for Narcotics Ejaz Shah that Khan Sahib has said at that it is time to call all MNAs and MPAs.

  • ‘Kapray istari karne ke liye frying pan bhi nahin deeya,’ Asad Umar jokes after being released from jail

    ‘Kapray istari karne ke liye frying pan bhi nahin deeya,’ Asad Umar jokes after being released from jail

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Asad Umar has been released from Rajanpur District Jail after he voluntarily got arrested as part of his party’s Jail Bharo Tehreek (voluntary arrest movement).

    After the release, Umar praised party workers for participating in the movement.

    In another tweet, he took a jibe at Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Senior Vice-President Maryam Nawaz, joking that jail officials did not provide him with a frying pan to iron his clothes.

    Several other prominent leaders also got released from jail including Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Senator Azam Swati and Zulfi Bukhari.

    Swati, after being released from Raheem Yar Khan district jail, said that “political engineering should stop now”. 

    PTI’s Zulfi Bukhari and Fayyaz ul Hassan Chauhan were released from Sargodha jail, while former Punjab Governor Umar Sarfaraz Cheema, Azam Khan Niazi, Sadaqat Abbasi, Ejaz Khan and others were also among the released PTI workers.

    The movement had been announced by PTI Chairman Imran Khan in the wake of the coalition government’s spree of arrests of key PTI leaders. However, after the Supreme Court’s verdict about the elections, the PTI chief called off the movement.

    LHC orders release of arrested PTI leaders during Jail Bharo Tehreek

    Earlier, Lahore High Court (LHC) ordered the release of the arrested leaders of PTI during Jail Bharo Tehreek.

    Justice Tariq Saleem Sheikh issued the order on the application of Fawad Chaudhry. The court suspended the detention orders of Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Asad Umar and other party leaders..

    The court also asked the parties, including the Punjab government, to respond on March 7.

    It is pertinent to mention here, that PTI leaders Shah Mahmood, Asad Umar and other leaders and activists were arrested from Lahore and transferred to other jails in the province.

  • Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Asad Umar aur Azam Swati Kot Lakhpat Jail mein larr parray, claims Punjab caretaker minister

    Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Asad Umar aur Azam Swati Kot Lakhpat Jail mein larr parray, claims Punjab caretaker minister

    Caretaker Minister for Information of Punjab Amir Mir has claimed that three senior leaders of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)— Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Asad Umar, and Senator Azam Swati—got into an argument in Kot Lakhpat Jail in Lahore after they presented themselves for arrest before the police.

    While talking to Dawn News‘ Nadia Naqi, the minister said, “Jab yeh pehli raat giraftaar hoye hain aur inhy Kot Lakhpat Jail mei rakha gaya hai toh yeh Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Asad Umar aur Azam Swati aapas mei jaghar parey thy” (On the very first night after being arrested, they were kept in Kot Lakhpat Jail where they started fighting with each other).

    According to the minister, the senior leadership got into an argument because the three of them were blaming each other for their arrests.

    He said considering the tense standoff between the three, they were transferred to different jails.

    The minister also noted that Qureshi had said that he was going to the Office of the Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Lahore for a cup of tea when Punjab police arrested him.

    PTI leaders were arrested last week on Wednesday from Lahore as part of their party’s Jail Bharro Tehreek (voluntary arrest movement).

    At the time, the police claimed that the PTI leaders forcefully made their way to the prison van. Currently, Asad Umar is in District Jail, Rajanpur, Qureshi in District Jail, Attock and Swati is serving his time in District Jail, Raheem Yar Khan.

  • Asad Umar’s wife denies filing paperwork for husband’s release

    Asad Umar’s wife denies filing paperwork for husband’s release

    Asad Umar’s wife Sofia Asad has rejected reports of filing a petition seeking the release of her husband who volunteered for arrest three days ago under the party’s “Jail Bharo Tehreek” on the call of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan.

    Stating that Asad Umar is engaged in the struggle for the “real freedom of the nation”, Sofia Asad said that reports about the request for his bail or release were wrongly attributed to her.

    She also said that she supports her husband completely. However, she admitted to approaching the Lahore High Court (LHC) to get authentic information regarding Asad’s whereabouts.

    Earlier, it was reported that the PTI leader’s wife filed a petition in LHC for her husband’s recovery from “illegal and unlawful” custody of the Lahore police.

    On Saturday, PTI senior leader Fawad Chaudhry claimed that, “35 PTI workers rejected the government’s offer of release, the leadership also refused to give requests for their release.”

    It is pertinent to mention here that the PTI leaders — including Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Asad Umar, Azam Swati, and other senior members— were taken into police custody from Lahore on Wednesday on the day the Jail Bharo Tehreek began.

    On Friday, Zulfi Bukhari and Fayaz ul Hassan Chohan were also arrested from Rawalpindi.

  • Jail Bharo Tehreek: PTI leaders transferred from Adiala to Shahpur jail

    Jail Bharo Tehreek: PTI leaders transferred from Adiala to Shahpur jail

    The Punjab police have transferred leaders of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) from Adiala jail to Shahpur jail.

    Those who transferred include Zulfi Bukhari, Fayaz ul Hassan Chohan among others who were arrested in Rawalpindi after they presented themselves for arrest before the police.

    Other than that, police moved 41 PTI activists from Adiala jail to Hafizabad jail.

    The move came after Adiala Jail was found occupied above its capacity.

    Earlier, Chohan claimed that the police van dropped him and others off on the way and left them there.

    PTI’s Jail Bharo Tehreek: Zulfi Bukhari, Fayaz Chohan arrested

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders Zulfi Bukhari and Fayaz ul Hassan Chohan gave themselves up for voluntary arrests in Rawalpindi as part of the party’s Jail Bharo Tehreek (voluntary arrest movement) on Friday.

    A police prisoner van took them away from Committee Chowk. PTI leader Amir Kayani, Awami Muslim League chief and former Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed, and others reached Committee Chowk in Rawalpindi to voluntarily surrender to the police.

    While talking to the media in Rawalpindi, Ghulam Sarwar Khan said that he will not give himself over for arrest but some leaders and some workers will give an arrest.

    On Thursday, PTI activists, led by their leaders, reached Central Prison Peshawar and stayed there till the evening, however, no one was arrested.

    In the evening, the sit-in staged by the party came to an end with PTI claiming that the police were reluctant to arrest them. They then announced that PTI chairman Imran Khan had ordered them to end the protest and sit in. They also announced that they would go to Rawalpindi for the campaign on Friday.

    Meanwhile, several petitions have been filed in the Lahore High Court (LHC) seeking the recovery of leaders — including Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Asad Umar, and Azam Swati – who were arrested on Wednesday and are serving time in jail.

    Because they wanted it: SMQ, Asad Umar in Attock, Rajanpur jail

    Leaders of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Wednesday voluntarily gave themselves up for arrest to Lahore police as part of the party’s Jail Bharro Tehreek (voluntary arrest movement).

    In videos taken at the protest at Charring Cross, PTI leaders including Senior Vice President Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Asad Umar, Senator Azam Swati and others can be seen wilfully climbing into a prison van.

    Later, PTI Vice President Fawad Chaudhry said, “Around 500-700 PTI workers have given themselves up for arrest.” Chaudhry claimed that the police had arrived prepared with police vans but were “worried after seeing the thousands of people and are contemplating what they should do”.

    The arrests took place as part of the PTI’s Jail Bharo Movement. Following the arrests, PTI Chairman Imran Khan summoned a meeting of his legal team at his mansion in Zaman Park, Lahore. The meeting aims to thrash out a legal strategy for obtaining bail for the arrested PTI leaders.

    A day earlier, the police confirmed that the number of people arrested is around 80, including central leaders of the PTI. However, now according to the list of accused detained in Central Jail in Lahore, the number is 77.

    Following are the names of PTI leaders who were arrested and the jails they have been transferred to.

    Omar Sarfraz Cheema (District Jail, Bhakkar)

    Asad Umar (District Jail, Rajanpur)

    Shah Mahmood Qureshi (District Jail, Attock)

    Muhammad Azam Khan Swati (District Jail, Raheem Yar Khan)

    Murad Ras (Central Jail, Dera Ghazi Khan)