ISLAMABAD: PTI’s senior leader and former federal minister for human rights Shireen Mazari has been arrested by Anti-Corruption Department Punjab, Islamabad Police said Saturday.    

A team of the Anti-Corruption Establishment and Dera Ghazi Khan police took her into custody in a joint operation in the federal capital.  

The sources said that she has been arrested in a case related to a property dispute in Rajanpur.

Confirming the report, her daughter Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir said that the police officials subjected her mother to torture before taking her into custody.

Taking to her Twitter handle, she said, “Male police officers have beaten and taken my mother away. All I have been told is that Anti Corruption Wing Lahore has taken her.”

The development was also confirmed by PTI’s Iftikhar Durrani who took to Twitter and said, “Dr Shireen Mazari has been picked up outside from her house a while ago, everyone must reach Police Station Kohsaaar!”

The case against the PTI leader was filed at the request of Deputy Commissioner Rajanpur, after which, the Anti-Corruption Establishment Punjab registered the FIR.

Mazari is accused of encroaching upon a piece of land. A complaint was lodged against her on March 11, 2022, while AC Rajanpur was directed to inquire into the matter.

The concerned official prepared the report of the case on April 8 and in the light of this, the Anti-Corruption Establishment registered a criminal case under its Rules 2014.

Following the arrest, the PTI moved the Islamabad High Court (IHC) and announced to hold country-wide protests later today.

‘Such tactics will strengthen our movement’

Condemning her arrest, former interior minister Sheikh Rasheed Ahmad said that such tactics will strengthen their movement.

Talking to Geo News, he said that the government has changed the police officers in Islamabad and other cities. “PTI Chairman Imran Khan could also be arrested,” feared Sheikh Rasheed. He said that PTI’s workers are being arrested across the country.

PPP leaders condemn arrest

Senior PPP  lawmakers Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar and Nafisa Shah took to Twitter to condemn the “deplorable” act of Mazari’s arrest.

“Things never seem to change in the land of the pure. Shireen Mazari is my neighbour & a dear friend. Her arrest is the deplorable and worst form of political oppression,” Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar said.

“People who have gone through it themselves & have cried foul in the past, why would they indulge or turn blind eye?”

MNA Nafisa Shah said that it is wrong to arrest her as there were no allegations against the PTI Leader.