ISLAMABAD: A nephew of former prime minister Imran Khan has been apprehended in Abbotabad, located in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, during the late hours of Sunday night. The confirmation of this arrest came through a tweet from his father.
Reports indicate that Hassan Niazi, who is professionally a lawyer, was taken into custody at his friend’s residence after eluding arrest for several days. He had relocated there just a couple of days prior.
The detention of Niazi occurs within the context of a crackdown on the previous ruling party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), in relation to the violence that transpired on May 9th. This violence encompassed attacks on both private and public facilities, notably the Corps Commander’s House, also known as Jinnah House, in Lahore.
Hassan Niazi, recognized for his advocacy in human rights, is married to the daughter of the Khan of Oghi. His father, Hafeezullah Niazi, a prominent figure in the media, expressed his hope that legal norms will be upheld.
The preceding month witnessed a court commencing the process to label Imran Khan’s two sisters and Hassan Niazi as proclaimed offenders due to their involvement in the attack on the historic Jinnah House.
The Corps Commander House, a structure alternatively known as Jinnah House, was subjected to vandalism and arson by a crowd of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) supporters following the arrest of the party leader Khan on May 9th, which had taken place at the Islamabad High Court.
The arrest of Khan, aged 70, prompted unparalleled anti-government demonstrations in Pakistan. He had been apprehended by paramilitary Rangers on May 9th regarding a corruption case but was subsequently released on bail.
The riots resulted in substantial harm to numerous military installations and government edifices, including the military headquarters in Rawalpindi. Additionally, more than 100 vehicles belonging to law enforcement and security agencies were incinerated.
Across Pakistan, law enforcement agencies have detained over 10,000 PTI supporters, with a notable portion – approximately 4,000 individuals – hailing from the province of Punjab.
Imran Khan asserted that the violence led to the deaths of more than 16 PTI activists. However, the police’s official tally places the death toll at 10.
In Khan’s circumstances, there exist numerous cases related to assaults on military establishments. Presently, he is confronted with over 150 cases involving charges of terrorism, murder, and blasphemy. He is currently held at Attock Jail following a court decision that sentenced him to three years in imprisonment on corruption charges related to the Toshakhana case.
(Islamabad51-Newsdesk)
