Authorities in Rawalpindi on Tuesday took Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan's cousin Qasim Zaman Khan into custody as he traveled toward Adiala jail for a pre-arranged visit. According to sources, law enforcement intercepted Qasim in the Gorakhpur vicinity and transported him to the local Adiala police post before later transferring him to Sadar Beruni Police Station. The authorities have not released any official statements regarding the specific legal grounds or underlying motivation behind the detention.
Meanwhile, PTI Central Secretary Information Sheikh Waqas Akram strongly condemned the arrest of Qasim Zaman, saying that Imran's cousin was not part of any political activity. In a statement, Waqas Akram said that Qasim Zaman is an ordinary citizen and a member of Imran Khan's family who had arrived at Adiala jail to meet his family member. He noted that Tuesday was the scheduled day for the family's meeting with founding chairman Imran Khan, but Qasim Zaman, who had come for the meeting, was also taken into custody.
He said the Punjab government and administration must remember that turning political differences into enmity and targeting families will not resolve issues.
The incident has further escalated tensions between the ruling administration and the opposition party, with PTI leadership demanding an immediate release of all detained relatives and supporters.
