ISLAMABAD: Senior PTI leader and party chairman Imran Khan's chief of staff, Shahbaz Gill has been arrested for incitement against institutions and their leadership, Islamabad Police said Tuesday.
“Shahbaz Gill has been arrested for making statements against the state institutions and creating hatred among its personnel,” police said.
Sources told Geo News, that a case under treason laws has been registered against Gill in Kohsar police station on the complaint of the district administration.
They said that the case has been registered under Sections 124-A (sedition), 505 (statements conducing to public mischief), and of the Pakistan Penal Code. Gill has been accused of spreading chaos, inciting people against the state along with other serious allegations.
It is pertinent to mention here that the PTI leader had attempted to incite hatred in the Pakistan Army while speaking on a private TV channel a day prior.
Gill had been using abusive language against the journalists and hurled threats at senior bureaucrats. The PTI leader had been involved in personal attacks and making below-the-belt remarks against his political opponents.
Meanwhile, PTI Chairman Imran Khan has termed Gill’s arrest as “abduction”.
Imran Khan shared the video statement of Gill’s driver who claimed that the PTI leader was tortured and dragged out of the car.
“This is an abduction not an arrest. Can such shameful acts take place in any democracy? Political workers treated as enemies. And all to make us accept a foreign-backed government of crooks."
PML-Q leader and former federal minister Moonis Elahi announced that Punjab police are being sent to protect Khan.
“Heard about some movement towards Banigala. We are sending Punjab police for protection,” Elahi wrote on Twitter.
He further said that all efforts to harm Khan will be stopped. "In order to reach Khan, one has to surpass the Punjab government and the people,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Islamabad police spokesperson clarified that no operation is being held near Banigala and 76 officers have been deployed for the security of the former prime minister.
The spokesperson further added that the superintendent of police (SP) has been appointed as Khan's chief security officer, urging the people not to fall prey to fake news and propaganda.
Sharing a video of Gill's vehicle showing broken glasses, PTI demanded the immediate release of the party leader.
Earlier, former federal minister Murad Saeed said that Shahbaz Gill has been arrested today. "The imported government is in panic," he tweeted.
Meanwhile, PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry said that Shahbaz Gill was "kidnapped" by men who came in vehicles without number plates from Banigala chowk.
Moving on to his Twitter handle, Murad Saeed said the coalition government gave a clear message to the leadership of the PTI. Warning the government against the arrest of the PTI chief, he said, “Imran Khan is the red line.”
Without giving details, the former minister said that after May 20, there was a terrible plan last night.
Criticising the incumbent government, Murad Saeed said that their every move is further exposing them. “People have rejected you,” he added.
Gill has been arrested today for the second time in recent months.
On July 17, the Punjab police arrested Shahbaz Gill in Muzaffargarh for allegedly visiting different polling stations during the by-elections in the city with his security guards who were dressed as FC personnel.
However, Gill denied the allegations of keeping any security guards dressed up in FC officials' uniforms and claimed that he had been engaged for three hours and was suddenly arrested without a warrant.
He was later released on the orders of a district magistrate.