The Peshawar Police has arrested Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement (PTM) leader Ali Wazir for allegedly ‘anti-state’ remarks in Peshawar on Wednesday.
According to the details, Ali Wazir – a Member of the National Assembly of Pakistan – was on his way home after attending the commemorative function at Shuhada-e-APS Memorial Library in Peshawar when he was apprehended midway by the Police. Wazir was reportedly stopped on his way from Islamabad to Peshawar earlier but was released afterwards.
According to the sources, the Sindh Interior Ministry and the Sindh Police wrote letters to the KPK Interior Ministry, requesting help in the arrest of Wazir.
The Police had alleged in the letter that Wazir had made ‘anti-state’ and ‘anti-military’ remarks at a PTM gathering in Karachi on 6th December. The Police also said that a First Information Report had been filed against him and that he was an “absconder”; the KPK government must therefore provide assistance in his arrest.
The Sindh Interior Ministry in its letter requested the KPK government to apprehend Wazir and then hand him over to the Sindh Police. A special team was also formulated for his arrest.
The Peshawar Police said that Ali Wazir was transferred to East Cantt Police Station soon after his arrest. He was later handed over to the Sindh Police.
“A team from Sindh police came to Peshawar and we assisted [them] in arresting Ali Wazir”, a Peshawar police official said, adding that the MNA has been handed over to the Sindh Police.
Responding to his arrest, Wazir said that he had no idea why the forces had arrested him. “I have received pre-arrest bail as well”, he said.
Commenting on Wazir’s arrest, leader of the PTM Manzoor Pashteen said that Wazir’s arrest is the continuation of the “oppressive policies” of the Pakistani state. He said that we will formulate a strategy against this “egregious act.”
Member of the National Assembly Mohsin Dawar also condemned Wazir’s arrest in a tweet, vowing that PTM will give an appropriate response. “Strongly condemn the arrest of @Aliwazirna50, PTM will give an appropriate response . It’s infuriating that Ali was arrested for commemorating the APS massacre, while Taliban r getting a red carpet in Islamabad. Where is the anger? Why this silent shamelessness?” he said in the tweet.