Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) Chairman Sahibzada Hamid Raza was taken into custody by Islamabad police early Friday and later transferred to Faisalabad, where he is now held in Central Jail.
Authorities stated that Raza was wanted in multiple cases linked to violent protests and vandalism against state institutions. He had previously been convicted by an anti-terrorism court in connection with the May 9, 2023, riots but had been evading arrest since then.
PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar, however, asserted that Raza “surrendered himself voluntarily” and denied the charges against him, claiming that only one case exists and the allegations are baseless.
Back in July, a special anti-terrorism court in Faisalabad sentenced Raza and several PTI leaders, including Omar Ayub, Shibli Faraz, and Zartaj Gul, over their involvement in the violent incidents following the arrest of PTI founder Imran Khan. Convictions in different cases have resulted in prison terms totaling up to 45 years for some participants.
The May 9 riots erupted after Khan was taken into custody at the Islamabad High Court in a corruption case, leading to attacks on public property and military installations, including Lahore’s Corps Commander House. While several PTI leaders were later released on bail, many remain imprisoned.
Imran Khan, removed from office through a no-confidence vote in April 2022, has been in jail since August 2023, facing multiple charges ranging from corruption to terrorism.
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