Pakistan: ex-interior minister arrested; Sheikh Rashid Ahmed says targeted for being Imran Khan's ally

In what could spark a fresh face-off between the Pakistan government and former Prime Minister Imran Khan, a former interior minister of the country was arrested on 2 February 2023.

Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, chief of the Awami Muslim League (AML) and a close ally of Imran Khan, has been accused of trying to disrupt peace, according to reports. While police claimed that he was arrested from Murree Motorway, Ahmed said that he was detained from his house in Rawalpindi.

Both Ahmed and Imran Khan accused the Shehbaz Sharif government of engaging in political vendetta.

"Strongly condemn arrest of Sh Rasheed. Never in our history have we had such a biased, vindictive Caretaker govt appt by totally discredited ECP. Question is can Pak afford a street movement which we are being pushed towards at a time when we have been bankrupted by Imported Govt?" tweeted Imran Khan.