Crisis in Pakistan: Security officials movements around Imran Khan’s residence after arrest of top aide Shahbaz Gill

Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan’s party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) was thrown into turmoil after his close aide Shahbaz Gill was arrested for allegedly inciting the public against the state institutions.

According to sources, the former PM also runs the risk of arrest as, according to an ANI report, some movements towards Khan’s residence in Islamabad were noticed. Following this, Pakistan Muslim League Quaid (PML-Q) leader Moonis Elahi said that he is sending Punjab Police for the protection of the PTI chief.

The former cricketer-turned-politician claimed that he was fighting for “real freedom” and was ready to lay down his life. He told a TV channel: “I can’t stay as a slave,” amid reports claiming that security has been stepped up around his residence in Islamabad over fears of his arrest. PTI leader and former minister Fawad Chaudhry claimed PTI supporters would “protect” the former prime minister.

However, Pakistan’s interior minister Rana Sanaullah said the report was unverified. Islamabad police stated that it hadn’t carried out any operation and urged people not to pay attention to false information, according to news agency PTI.

Chaudhry in a tweet claimed Gill was “abducted” by “people who came in vehicles without number plates”. Imran declared that it was a shameful act and alleged that it was an “abduction”, and “not an arrest”.

Pakistan’s interior minister Rana Sanaullah, however, said Gill was arrested on charges of sedition. Meanwhile, reports said an Islamabad court granted police two-day custody of Gill. The police had registered a number of cases against Gill including waging war against the state and abetting mutiny, as per the reports.

On the other hand, Pakistan television station ARY News Senior Executive Vice President Ammad Yousaf was arrested from Karachi in the early hours of Wednesday a day after the TV channel was taken off air for being critical of the government.

According to ARY News, Yousaf was arrested without a warrant from his residence located in Karachi’s DHA area. Defending the curbs, the authorities said that the channel aired “seditious” content. This comes after Gill, a close aide of Imran Khan was arrested on Tuesday, 9 August. – INDIA NEWS STREAM