Article Author:
Associated Press
Mounir Ahmed
Islamabad (AP) — Pakistani police on Tuesday tried to incite a prominent politician from former Prime Minister Imran Khan's party to instigate a rebellion against soldiers. against the supreme commander of the armed forces arrested on suspicion.
The arrest of Shahbaz Gill, chief of staff of Khan's opposition Teherik-e-Insaf, was quickly condemned by party officials, including Khan, who took to Twitter to denounce Gil's arrest.
"This is an abduction, not an arrest. How can such a shameful act take place in any democracy? Politicians are treated as enemies. And all (a) to make us accept the government of foreign-backed crooks," he tweeted..
cases, up to the death penalty.
Gil was arrested the day after he appeared on his ARY news channel in the country, detailing the current political climate. In it, he urged units up to the brigadier general level not to accept any illegal orders from the military's top leadership.
Shabaz, who replaced Khan in April, surprised Prime Minister Sharif's government and it is unclear why he made such a comment. Khan's government was defeated in a no-confidence vote.
Gill said Monday that soldiers up to brigadier generals were supporters of Khan, and only some generals opposed Khan and his party, Pakistan's media regulator. suspended his ARY TV for airing Gill's remarks. In a notice to ARY, Pakistan's media regulator asked for an explanation for broadcasting "hateful, inflammatory and malicious content". ARY TV is widely known for being a Khan supporter and criticizing the country's powerful military and Prime Minister Sharif's government since the Khan government was ousted.
Pakistan's Interior Minister Rana Sanaura said on Tuesday that Gil had been arrested on treason charges after he tried to agitate people and the military against state institutions.{38
Sanaura accused Khan of trying to create divisions within the military since he was ousted as prime minister. He repeatedly accused the country's Army Secretary, General Kamal Javed Bajwa, of being complicit in the US conspiracy. Washington and the military deny the charges.
Gil is due to appear before a judge on Wednesday, and his lawyers are likely to seek his release on bail.
