Scotland Yard arrests ‘PTI supporter’ for threats to Sharif family

LONDON: Scotland Yard has arrested Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) supporter Gulfam Hussain Kayani for threatening to harm Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, former PM Nawaz Sharif and other members of the Sharif family including a threat to blow up – live on TikTok.

In one of the recent TikTok broadcasts, Kayani had threatened to blow up the Avenfield apartments. He had threatened speaking to his TikTok followers that he will practically “drag” members of the Sharif family on London streets and that he will “avenge” if Imran Khan is harmed in Pakistan.

Gulfam Kayani had also criticised Pakistan’s military leadership. Scotland Yard sources confirmed the arrest. It’s understood that Kayani’s arrest warrants were issued around a week ago.

When he was arrested late on Friday night at the gates of Avenfield flats, soon after Imran Khan’s conviction in the £190 million case, Kayani was live on TikTok and interacting with his followers.

The complaint to the police was made by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PMLN) UK’s Youth Wing leader Khurram Butt who recently petitioned Oxford University against Imran Khan’s bid to become the chancellor.

Khurram Butt said: “I passed nearly a dozen Urdu videos to the police in which Gulfam Kayani was issuing threats to kill, harassing, stalking and inciting violence. He clearly threatened he was prepared to go to jail after harming the Sharif family. He named PM Shehbaz Sharif, Nawaz Sharif and other Sharif family members as his targets. Peaceful protests are fine but threats are unacceptable.”

Kayani was a vocal supporter of PMLN till around four months ago. He used to fight with PTI supporters outside the Avenfield flats and elsewhere. He then joined the PTI and became vocal on social media for the party. He used to go live on TikTok on daily basis and quit his job as a trained chef to focus on live shows.

Kayani was not available for comment. Sources close to him have denied his involvement in any illegal acts.