ISLAMABAD: Mystery shrouds circumstances in which ex-PM Nawaz Sharif’s adviser and speech writer Irfan Siddiqui was arrested Friday night over minor violation of tenancy law, sent on 14-day judicial remand to Adiala Jail Rawalpindi on Saturday and then released on bail Sunday.
Even top government officials, Special Assistant to PM on Information Firdous Ashiq Awan and Interior Minister Brig (R) Ijaz Shah expressed their wonder what had prompted Islamabad police to arrest and handcuff a senior columnist of the country and PML-N leaders’ godfather on the petty charge that he did not submit details of his tenants to police.
In fact, it was his son’s house and he told the policemen as well who had reached his house Friday night that the house belonged to his son and the charge was not so severe that property owner or the tenant could be taken into custody.
He requested for some time so that his son could submit details of the tenants but police didn’t listen to him and took him as well as the tenant to police station Ramna in G-11 Sector and from there they were taken to Crime Investigation Agency’s police station.
According to police, he was arrested under Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code for not informing the relevant police station that he had rented out his house. Under this law, all property owners have to inform local police stations about the details of their tenants.
Siddiqui was produced before a local magistrate on Saturday. He was handcuffed along with his tenant when produced before court that sent then on 14-day remand.
Meanwhile, Irfan Siddiqui’s picture in handcuffs sparked a debate on social media and people questioned why an octogenarian journalist was arrested for a charge that can be settled in the police station after provision of the tenant’s details. Not only PML-N high ups condemned this arrest terming it an act of political victimisation, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leadership also disapproved it and Special Assistant to PM on Information Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan expressed her reservations over the arrest. “Prime Minister has taken serious notice of the arrest and an inquiry in this regard has been directed,” she said in a tweet.
National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser also summoned Inspector General of Police (IGP) Islamabad to explain why a senior writer was humiliated by Islamabad police.
Interior Minister Brig (R) Ijaz Shah also expressed his ignorance regarding arrest of Irfan Siddiqui saying whoever has done this cannot be Prime Minister Imran Khan’s friend.
After criticism from all sides, the same magistrate who had sent Siddiqui to judicial remand accepted his bail application against Rs20,000 (Dh455) on Sunday despite the fact it was an off day.
Immediately, after his release Irfan Siddiqui in media talk revealed while he was being released, the superintendent jail was continuously getting calls and persons on the other end of the phone line were asking why the release was being delayed.
Although plea for bail filed by Siddiqui’s counsel was supposed to be heard on Monday the magistrate commenced the court over the weekend and granted him the post-arrest bail even before his lawyers Advocate Abdul Khaliq Thind and Hafiz Munawar Iqbal reached the magistrate’s office.
