Police launched a massive crackdown on All Parties Democratic Movement (APDM) leaders and workers in Rawalpindi and Islamabad early on Sunday and arrested Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Acting President Javed Hashmi, Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) leader Hafiz Hussain Ahmed and the MMA’s parliamentarian Mian Muhammad Aslam under Section 3 of the Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance. The raids were made to stop the movement from demonstrating outside the Supreme Court on Monday and Tuesday and then outside the Election Commission on September 29 when the nomination papers of the presidential candidates would be scrutinised.A list given to the police by the government also includes the names of anti-government religious leaders. “The list also includes the names of those who are dead or are outside Pakistan,” a police officer said, adding that orders were also issued for the arrest of PML-N Chairman Raja Zafarul Haq, Information Secretary Ahsan Iqbal and Ch Nisar Ali Khan.
Hashmi and Hafiz Hussain Ahmed were arrested from parliament lodges, while Mian Aslam was arrested from his residence in F-8 and sent to Adiala Jail for 30 days under Section 3 of the MPO.
Raids for arrest of Qazi, Asfandyar, Imran: Raids were also made for the arrest of MMA President Qazi Hussain Ahmed, Awami National Party chief Asfandyar Wali Khan and Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf chief Imran Khan. Police also searched the rooms of MMA leader Liaquat Baloch and PML-N leader Tehmina Daultana. They both were not present there.