Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Shahbaz Gill was 'abducted' in Islamabad on Tuesday, according to PTI leaders.
PTI Vice President Fawad Chaudhry, through his official Twitter handle, announced that Gill was kidnapped from near Bani Gala Chowk in the federal capital by unidentified individuals in unmarked vehicles.
PTI chief Imran Khan said the incident "is an abduction [and] not an arrest"
He questioned if such "shameful acts" could take place in a democracy where political workers were being "treated as enemies".
Imran maintained that such acts are being committed to making "us accept a foreign backed government of crooks"
PTI leader Murad Saeed also took to Twitter to state that Gill was 'abducted' after his car was attacked and his assistant assaulted by unknown individuals
He further claimed that the abductors broke the windows on Gill's vehicle with Kalashnikovs.
Murad questioned how many people would the government arrest and how many journalists would it "ban"
He claimed a "terrible plan" was initiated, but PTI supporters had sent a "clear message" that any action against PTI chief Imran Khan would be overstepping the "red line".
The PTI's official Twitter handle posted a video of Gill's assistant following the abduction, stating that the PTI leader was "arrested" and he was "tortured". The assistant also showed his neck which had scratch marks.
The assistant, elaborating on the incident, said the windows of the car were broken with rifle stocks and Gill was handcuffed "as if he were a terrorist". He also alleged that eight to ten cars were present for Gill's "arrest" and that the PTI leader was "dragged" away.
Former human rights minister Shireen Mazari highlighted that first, a local news channel was taken off-screen by the "civilian dictatorship imported government" and then Gill was "arrested or abducted".
She maintained that if any "critical word" against the government would mean "no arrest warrant [and] you will be taken away".
Mazari alleged that this was the "grand design of [the] US regime change conspiracy and its abettors".
PTI leader Babar Awan also took to Twitter and claimed that Gill's arrest in the manner of an "abduction was condemnable" and showed how "scared" the government was. He urged the government to show some modesty and release Gill.
According to sources, PTI chief Imran Khan has summoned an emergency meeting to consider the situation arising from Gill's arrest. The meeting will also consider approaching courts today regarding the arrest, sources said.
Moreover, all key leaders of the PTI were alerted in case of more arrests.
