KARACHI: the Sindh Police on Saturday arrested Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Sindh President Ali Haider Zaidi after a case was registered against him at Ibrahim Hyderi police station on charges of ‘fraud’.
According to details, the first information report (FIR) was registered on the complaint of a property dealer, Fazal Elahi, against the PTI leader. The FIR was registered under Sections 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of a common intention), 506 (punishment for criminal intimidation), 420 (cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property), 471 (using as genuine a forged document) and 468 (forgery for purpose of cheating) of the Pakistan Penal Code.
The complainant, in the FIR, claimed that Zaidi had taken a loan of Rs180 million from him in 2013. He said that as surety, Zaidi had given him the papers of a property worth Rs16.7 million and promised to pay the remaining Rs12.5 million in next six months.
Fazal Elahi alleged that he had asked Zaidi several times to transfer the plot in his name but he continued using delaying tactics. He claimed that later, it was revealed that the file of the property was “fake”.
He alleged that the “suspect had abused his trust and committed fraud” and also sought police protection from Zaidi for his family.
Earlier in the day, Sindh police arrested the president of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Sindh chapter Ali Zaidi from PTI’s Sindh house.
‘Police vandalized PTI’s Sindh House’
According to details, the PTI senior leader Firdous Shamim Naqvi confirmed that the Sindh police arrested Ali Zaidi – the president of PTI Sindh – from the party’s Sindh house on Saturday evening.
Firdous Shamim Naqvi alleged that the Sindh police vandalized PTI’s Sindh House prior to the arrest of Ali Zaidi, while the police officials did not show any legal search warrant or First Information Report (FIR) before taking Ali Zaidi into custody.
He said that the raiding party not only broke the cellphones of the party workers who were trying to record the arrest but also took some devices with them.
However, South Zone Police Karachi – in a statement – denied arrest of PTI leader Ali Zaidi, while the police mobile of Ibrahim Hyderi police station were spotted during Ali Zaidi’s arrest.
Police have not issued any official statement on the matter yet.
Earlier, a video posted on PTI’s official Twitter account showed a man, thought to be Zaidi, being escorted into a white automobile by men in civvies surrounded by uniformed police personnel.
President PTi Sindh @AliHZaidiPTI has been picked from PTI Sindh office, absolutely shameful!! #ReleaseAliZaidi pic.twitter.com/WMfLr35Yy7
— PTI (@PTIofficial) April 15, 2023
In another video from inside the PTI Secretariat, officials can be seen pushing and dragging Zaidi by his arm.
The party’s provincial media department claimed Zaidi was arrested from the PTI Secretariat without a warrant.
آج شکر گڑھ کا 70 سالہ عبد الرؤف 14 کلومیٹر دور سے ذلت کیساتھ مفت آٹا لینے پہنچا، بیہوش ہوا، دل کا دورہ پڑا اور جاں بحق ہو گیا لیکن حکمرانوں کو فکر اس بات کی تھی کہ @AliHZaidiPTI کو دھکے دیکر دفتر سے گرفتار کیسے کرنا ہے۔ آج مقدمہ درج ہوتا ہے اور آج ہی اٹھا لیتے ہیں، لوگ اندھے نہیں pic.twitter.com/RwAu4YdyD7
— Ameer Abbas (@ameerabbas84) April 15, 2023
“The police entered the party office without any warrant,” the party’s Sindh spokesperson said. “Zaidi was holding a meeting with district representatives [at the time].”
The spokesperson said the police and men in civvies moved Zaidi to an undisclosed location.
“The police personnel also confiscated some mobile phones from the party’s office,” he said, adding that the raid was “illegal”.
PTI condemns arrest
PTI Chairman Imran Khan condemned Zaidi’s arrest, reiterating his claim that it was part of the “London plan”.
“Strongly condemn the arrest of another of our senior leaders, Ali Zaidi, from Karachi. All part of the London plan where Nawaz was given assurances that PTI would be crushed,” he said in a tweet, claiming that over 3,000 PTI workers had been “arrested, abducted and terrorised”.
Strongly condemn arrest of another of our senior leaders, Ali Zaidi from Karachi. All part of the London Plan where Nawaz given assurances PTI would be crushed. Over 3000 PTI workers arrested, abducted, terrorised. Ali Amin & now Ali Zaidi abducted. A new plan underway for more
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) April 15, 2023
The PTI chief alleged that a new plan was under way “for more police plus action in Zaman Park after 27 Ramzan or over Eid”.
illegal police plus action in Zaman Park after 27 Ramazan or over Eid. They think this will weaken us in case elections are held. Let me state categorically this will not work. People's anger only increasing & they will see the blowback of this nefarious London Plan in elections.
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) April 15, 2023
“They think this will weaken us in case elections are held. Let me state categorically, this will not work. People’s anger is only increasing and they will see the blowback of this nefarious London plan in elections,” said.
Sindh Assembly opposition leader Haleem Adil Sheikh also condemned Zaidi’s arrest, saying the police barged inside the PTI office “illegally” and without any warrant.
“Ali Zaidi should be released immediately,” Shaikh demanded. “This era of injustice will not last long.”
Later, the PTI announced a protest outside Ibrahim Hyderi police station to condemn Zaidi’s protest.
A post on the party’s official Twitter asked PTI workers and lawmakers to assemble outside Ibrahim Hyderi police station at 10:30pm today.
“A protest will be staged outside the police station against PTI Sindh president Ali Haider Zaidi’s arrest,” the statement said.
