Asad Umar, Secretary General of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), was arrested by the Anti-Terrorist Squad of the Islamabad police on May 10, 2023, from the premises of the Islamabad High Court (IHC).
Umar was arrested while he was preparing a petition to file in the IHC seeking a meeting with PTI Chairman Imran Khan, who was arrested the day before. PTI lawyers tried to stop the police from arresting Umar, but their efforts were unsuccessful.
Umar was booked in two cases registered against PTI leaders following the protests that took place after Imran Khan’s arrest. The cases were registered in Islamabad’s Tarnol and Aabpara police stations.
Umar was with PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Senator Saifullah Sarwar Khan Nyazee and Ghulam Sarwar Khan at the time of his arrest. All three leaders returned to the IHC’s Bar Room after Umar was taken away.
The police also tried to arrest Qureshi, but the lawyers and other party workers saved the PTI vice chairman from arrest.
Umar’s arrest is the latest in a series of crackdowns on PTI leaders and supporters by the government of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The government has been accused of using its power to silence dissent and suppress the PTI’s political activities.