SWAT/ FAISALABAD: The police have arrested 34 people including former provincial ministers and provincial assembly members in a crackdown in Swat, Buner and dir Lower Districts of Malakand division in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Moreover, the Faisalabad police on Wednesday arrested Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Khayal Ahmad Kastro in connection with investigations into different cases of corruption and power abuse.
According to swat police sources, out of the arrested persons, 12 have been arrested after an FIR while 18 leaders and workers have been detained under 3 MPOs.
According to the police spokesperson, former provincial ministers Dr Amjad Ali (Swat) and Shafiullah Khan (Dir), former MPAs – Azam Khan, Malik Liaqat Khan, Chairman of Tehsil Council Kabal Saeed Khan, Murad Saeed’s Advisor Khursheed Dada and other locals office0bearers and workers have arrested.
“16 people have been arrested from Swat, 12 from Buner and 6 from Lower Dir”, the police officials informed.
They said the arrested persons were transferred to prisons in Swat, Buner and Dir while raids are being carried out to arrest more persons.” said officials.
According to PTI’s local chapter, various workers and local leadership have gone underground following the crackdown.
On the other hand, more than 40 local leaders and workers of PTI in Swat have approached Peshawar High Court Mingora Bench and the Court has suspended the order of 3 MPOs and stopped the police from their arrest.
Several PTI leaders including Divisional Chairman and former MPA Fazal Hakeem, District President and former MNA Saleem Rahman, former Provincial Minister Muhib Ullah Khan, former MPA Azizullah Gran, City Mayor Shahid Ali and other officials and workers filed an application against the arrest warrant under 3 MPOs in Peshawar High Court Mingora Bench.
Taking up the application for hearing, a PHC Divisional Bench suspended the arrest orders issued under 3 MPOs for two weeks and stopped the police from arresting them.
Meanwhile, PTI workers protested against Imran Khan’s arrest in Swat on the second day as well. Dozens of workers protested on the streets in Nishat Chowk Mingora, Khawazakhela, Kanju and other areas of Swat and raised slogans by burning tires.
However, when the arrest warrants were issued for the district and local leadership, the leadership remained absent throughout the day for fear of arrest while workers continued protest in groups. Earlier on Tuesday, the workers had ended their protest late at night and left for their homes.
Khayal Kastro arrested on corruption charges
In Faisalabad, police on Wednesday arrested Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Khayal Ahmad Kastro in connection with multiple investigations against the PTI leader for alleged abuse of power, corruption, and scams in award of contracts.
Sources said that Khayal Kastro was apprehended by the police and taken to an undisclosed location. The anti-corruption department had issued summon to Khayal Kastro.
Khayal Kastro is affiliated with PTI for several years and is a prominent political figure in Faisalabad.
