‘Punjab police’ arrest AML chief Sheikh Rashid in Rawalpindi

Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, the Awami Muslim League (AML) chief and close aide of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan, was arrested in Rawalpindi on Sunday, his counsel Sardar Abdul Razaq claimed. “Rashid was taken into custody by men in plain clothes from a housing society in Rawalpindi,” the lawyer added. While sharing the details, the lawyer said that Rashid was taken into custody from a rented house in the housing society. “His [Rashid] nephew was also arrested,” he added. No case was registered against the AML chief in the limits of Punjab, his counsel also claimed, adding that Rashid was nominated in a case lodged at Kohsar police station in connection with a protest rally held on May 10 by the PTI against the detention of Imran Khan — the former prime minister. “We do not know the whereabouts of Rashid so far. Efforts are being made to trace him,” his lawyer went on to say.

Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, the leader of the Awami Muslim League (AML) and a close associate of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan, has reportedly been arrested in Rawalpindi, as claimed by his lawyer, Sardar Abdul Razaq.

Razaq stated that Rashid was apprehended by plainclothes individuals from a housing society in Rawalpindi, specifically from a rented house in that society. Furthermore, Rashid's nephew was also said to have been arrested during the incident.

According to Rashid's lawyer, no case has been registered against the AML chief in Punjab's jurisdiction. However, he mentioned that Rashid had been nominated in a case related to a PTI protest rally held on May 10 at the Kohsar police station, concerning the detention of former Prime Minister Imran Khan.

The lawyer expressed uncertainty regarding Rashid's whereabouts and stated that efforts are underway to locate him.

In a video statement on Sheikh Rashid's official social media handle, his nephew, Sheikh Rashid Shafique, confirmed that Rashid, along with his brother and a domestic helper, was taken into custody by Punjab police officials and plainclothes individuals after the Maghrib prayer. Shafique pointed out that the police had previously admitted in written statements to Lahore and Islamabad high courts that Sheikh Rashid was not wanted in any case by them.

After their arrest, the trio was moved to an undisclosed location, and Shafique requested the Supreme Court and high courts to disclose their whereabouts so that they could provide them with legal assistance. He also emphasized that they were unaware of the specific case for which Rashid and his brother were detained and urged the authorities to present them before the court, vowing to fight for their legal rights.