File Photo of Azam Swati

News Desk:

Balochistan police arrested the central leader of Pakistan Tehrik e Insaf (PTI) and former federal minister Azam Swati in Islamabad on Friday morning. Police sources said Mr. Swati was being shifted to Quetta and he would be sent to any prison in Balochistan.

In Balochistan, various cases have been registered against the latter for his controversial tweets against State institutions. Police sources said cases were registered at Kuchlak, Zhob, Gwadar, and Khuzdar police stations against the former ruling party’s leader for his controversial speeches against State institutions.

The Daily Quetta Voice made several attempts to speak to the Quetta police. However, senior police officers not comment on the arrest of the PTI leader.

On November 27, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) arrested Swati — for the second time in less than two months — over a “highly obnoxious campaign of intimidating tweets […] against state institutions”.

Separate first information reports (FIRs) were registered against the PTI leader in Balochistan and Sindh as well for using “derogatory language” and “provoking the people against the army”. Following the arrest, the Pakistan Electronic Media and Regulatory Authority (Pemra) prohibited media coverage of Swati on all satellite TV channels.

IHC reserves verdict on Swati’s plea seeking details of FIRs

Earlier today, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) reserved its verdict on a plea filed by Swati seeking details of the FIRs registered against him.

During the hearing today, presided by Chief Justice Umer Farooq, Additional Attorney General (AAG) Munawar Duggal said that after the 18th Amendment, the federal government did not have the authority to direct the provincial inspector generals.

“We cannot provide details of how many cases are registered against Azam Swati in the provinces,” he said.

Here, the court inquired if the federal government has no administrative control. “Coordination with the police can be maintained in policy-related matters,” Duggal replied.

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Quetta Voice is an English Daily covering all unfolding political, economic and social issues relating to Balochistan, Pakistan's largest province in terms of area. QV's main focus is on stories related to education, promotion of quality education and publishing reports about out of school children in the province. QV has also a vigilant eye on health, climate change and other key sectors.