ISLAMABAD: In an unprecedented move, the Islamabad Capital Police on Wednesday raided Gilgit Baltistan House in Islamabad to, what sources claim, arrest Chief Minister of Gilgit Baltistan (GB) Khalid Khurshid under Maintenance of Public Order [MPO] Section 16.
However, the chief minister’s security and a few ministers, who were residing in the House opposed the arrest attempt saying that the police cannot take the chief minister of a province that too on the premise of provincial government, insiders informed this scribe adding that the negotiation and talks with police continued for hours.
The capital police and law enforcement agencies had also raided the House for “sheltering” Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) leaders which included Vice Chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi Malika Bukhari and Musrat Cheema, who after dialogue with the administration had handed over to police outside the GB house early hours of Thursday.
However, no official remand for arrest or any notification of placing the CM under house arrest was issued by the police or law enforcement agencies so far.
A minister of GB residing in the house, when contacted, informed that the capital police intended to arrest the chief minister under section 16 MPO.
“However, we resisted the move saying that a chief minister of a province cannot be arrested in the capital under the law and keeping the sensitive position/status of GB no such step should be taken,” he said, adding that the GB House is Gilgit Baltistan’s identity in the federation.
According to him, the forces should not have violate the sanctity of privacy of GB House by raiding the residences of families of public representatives and other guests in the house.
Later, it was decided to keep the chief minister under house arrest at GB House.
During a visit to the house, it was observed that large numbers of police personnel were deployed inside and outside the GB House whereas no outside including media persons were not being allowed to visit the CM or other ministers and guests in the house. Even those intending to come out of the House were disallowed or strictly restricted.
“A senior police officer is sitting next to the Chief Minister’s office at GB House to monitor activities and movement of the chief minister,” an insider said.
It was earlier reported that the house had been declared a sub-jail and a contingent of police and rangers was also deployed outside it.
Sources also reported that the role of Khurshid is being evaluated for sheltering the leaders, who were wanted by the police, in the G-B house. Moreover, it was further reported that strict action is not being taken against the CM due to his post, however, it has been decided to keep an eye on his activities in the future.
They maintained that if the CM wants to go to G-B for official duties, the Interior Ministry will consider it, but he will not be allowed to do any activities in Islamabad.
Through its official Twitter handle, the PTI condemned the move and questioned “What message does the imposed mafia on the country want to convey at the global level?”
“Placing an elected Chief Minister under house arrest cannot be a greater argument for dictatorship,” it added.
Another minister of GB, who was outside the GB House, claimed that concerned quarters have discussed the safe passage to CM Khalid Khurshid keeping the sensitivity of the region. “CM would hopefully fly back to Gilgit soon,” he claimed.
Earlier in the day, it was reported that PTI leaders, including its Vice President Shah Mehmood Qureshi, were arrested for “inciting arson and violent protests under a plan for threatening peace”.
Qureshi was arrested in the wee hours of Thursday. As of now, PTI leaders Asad Umar, Fawad Chaudhry, Jamshed Iqbal Cheema, Falknaz Chitrali, Musrat Jamsheed Cheema and Malika Bukhari have been arrested. A day earlier, PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry and Asad Umar were also taken into custody.
The crackdown on the PTI leadership comes after the arrest of PTI chairman and deposed premier Imran Khan who was arrested in the Al-Qadir Trust case from the premises of the IHC, where he was present for two hearings.
The PTI chief’s arrest triggered protests in many cities of the country by his party activists and supporters as they clashed with the police and destroyed public properties.
