Tag: Shah Mahmood Qureshi

  • ‘This army is mine’: Khan stresses that he has no fight with military

    ‘This army is mine’: Khan stresses that he has no fight with military

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan has again stressed that he has no fight with the military.

    Talking with journalists in Zaman Park, Khan said: “There is no fight with the army, this army is mine.”

    Earlier, Khan said that he is ready to talk to Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir, however, he was of the view that the army chief treats him like his enemy.

    Commenting on the mass departure of leaders from his party, Khan said, “I will give a big surprise in the coming days.”

    Khan said some party leaders are leaving the party under compulsion while some have been exposed.

    He also claimed that PTI will win the next general elections despite the desertions of party leaders.

    In case of Imran’s disqualification, the PTI chief said, Vice Chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi would lead the party.

  • Islamabad High Court orders release of Shah Mahmood Qureshi

    Islamabad High Court orders release of Shah Mahmood Qureshi

    The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has issued an order for the release of senior Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Shah Mahmood Qureshi, and declared his arrest illegal under the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) law.

    The orders were given by Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb of the IHC while hearing a case pertaining to Qureshi’s arrest.

    The court instructed the PTI leader to produce an undertaking identical to the one provided by former state minister Ali Muhammad Khan when it issued his release orders.
    Following PTI chairman Imran Khan’s arrest in the Al-Qadir Trust case on

    May 9, several PTI leaders, including Qureshi, were detained for “inciting violent protests.

  • 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.

  • Dar tells PTI that govt has nothing to do with raid at Elahi’s residence

    Dar tells PTI that govt has nothing to do with raid at Elahi’s residence

    Finance Minister Ishaq Dar has talked to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Senior Vice President Shah Mahmood Qureshi via telephone, discussing last night’s raid at former Chief Minister (CM) Pervaiz Elahi’s residence in Lahore.

    Dar distanced the federal government from the incident and blamed the Punjab government for it, while expressing grief over the raid that has been criticised for using excessive force.

    The minister said that he would forward PTI’s reservations to the ruling alliance and would get back to them.

    Meanwhile, Dar’s party fellow and Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal criticised the PTI leaders for “using women and children” as a shield to evade arrest.

    Apparently justifying the raid, the minister said both PTI Chairman Imran Khan and Elahi were not arrested when police conducted a raid at their residence.

    The raid has put talks between PTI and the government, to reach a consensus on a date for election, in jeopardy. The final and third round of negotiations will be held on May 2 (Tuesday).

  • Oh, Punjab walon, Fawad Chaudhry suggests Buzdar can become chief minister again

    Oh, Punjab walon, Fawad Chaudhry suggests Buzdar can become chief minister again

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) senior leader Fawad Chaudhry has said that he will be surprised to see Usman Buzdar as Chief Minister (CM) of Punjab again, however, he stressed that the decision will be up to the party chairman, Imran Khan.

    Talking to Journalist Kashif Abbasi on ARY News programme ‘Off the Record’, Fawad said: “What can I say,” when asked if Buzdar is the leading candidate for the slot. Chaudhry repeated himself again, saying that the decision will be made by Imran Khan.

    The PTI leader didn’t seem happy when asked that why he didn’t get a Member of Provincial Assembly (MPA) party ticket from Imran Khan.

    It was revealed that senior leadership of the party, including Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Hammad Azhar, and Fawad, didn’t get party tickets for the upcoming Punjab election although it was widely speculated that they wanted one. Meanwhile, according to Fawad, both former CMs of Punjab, Pervaiz Elahi and Usman Buzdar, were given a ticket.

    “We should have gotten them”, Fawad said when asked about tickets. He also agreed that there are many party members who want to apply for the Punjab CM candidacy including Hammad Azhar and Shah Mahmood.

    Shahbaz Gill, who also didn’t get a MPA ticket, said that he and other leaders including Fawad and Hammad submitted papers for the provincial assembly, however, Khan decided not to give them tickets.

    However, he accepted Khan’s decision wholeheartedly, saying “I am not with Khan for the ticket and not for the position.”

    Khan’s social media focal person Azhar Mashwani also came forward to reveal that “many former federal ministers and MNAs of PTI wanted to contest elections on the Punjab Assembly seats as well.”

    However, according to Azhar, Khan decided that the “federal team will remain in the federation.”

  • ‘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.

  • Agar mujhe kuch hota hai, toh aap ne jiddojehad karni hai, says Imran Khan before possible arrest

    Agar mujhe kuch hota hai, toh aap ne jiddojehad karni hai, says Imran Khan before possible arrest

    Chairman Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan, has said in a video message said that even if he gets arrested his supporters have to continue fighting for Haqeeqi Azadi.

    He said that he might get arrested or killed because the police have arrived to arrest him.

    It is pertinent to mention that an arrest warrant was issued for Khan on Monday in the Toshkhana case because of his continuous absence from the hearing of the case.

    ‘Aaj issay giraftar kareinge’: Rana Sanaullah

    Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah has said that Imran Khan will get arrested and be presented before the court.

    Addressing a rally in Sheikhupura, the minister said that the arrest is taking place on the court’s orders.

    ‘Halaat mat kharaab karein, DIG Operations aap mujhse aakay baat karain: Qureshi

    PTI Leader Shah Mahmood Qureshi said that the DIG Operations should come and talk to him.

    Talking to the media, Qureshi said that the tense environment should not be allowed to worsen, adding that PTI doesn’t want any loss of life or material.

    “I am requesting the DIG to show me the warrant, I will read it, and discuss it with the party chairman, so that we can reach a mutual consensus,” he said.

    ‘Inshallah’; Police determined to arrest Imran Khan today

    Talking to the media, one of the Islamabad police officials who arrived in Lahore to arrest Imran Khan said that they won’t go back until they implemented the court’s order and arrest the PTI chairman.

    He stated that PTI’s supporters are unnecessarily resisting the arrest and taking the law into their hands.

    PTI workers ka police par pathrao

    Earlier, a heavy contingent of police reached Zaman Park to arrest Imran Khan in the Toshakana case — the only case in which his arrest warrant is not suspended.

    A large number of PTI supporters gathered at Zaman Park and tried to stop the police by throwing stones at them.

  • ‘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.

  • 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)