BAGH, AJK; Police on Sunday apprehended Sardar Abdul Qayyum Niazi, the President of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) chapter and former AJK prime minister, in connection with the May 9, 2023, riots.
Officials confirmed that arrest warrants had been issued for Niazi over his alleged involvement in the violent protests that erupted following the arrest of PTI founder Imran Khan last year. He was taken into custody upon his arrival in Samahni, where he was scheduled to address a PTI rally.
Mirpur DIG Liaquat Chaudhry stated that Niazi was detained under Section 16 of the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) Ordinance, 1960, on the orders of the deputy commissioner.
The May 9 unrest saw widespread demonstrations by PTI supporters nationwide after Imran Khan’s arrest from the Islamabad High Court premises in a graft case. The protests turned violent, with demonstrators allegedly targeting military installations, government buildings, and even the residence of the Lahore corps commander.
In the aftermath, hundreds of PTI workers and leaders were arrested, with some later granted bail, while others remain incarcerated. Imran Khan, removed from office through a no-confidence vote in April 2022, has been in jail since August 2023, facing multiple charges, including corruption and terrorism.
