ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s main lawyer was arrested outside the high-security Adiala Jail on Friday, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party said, after he arrived there to visit the ex-premier along with the legal team.
Khan, who was ousted from power in a parliamentary no-confidence vote in April 2022, has been in prison since his arrest in August 2023 in a graft case.
He has faced a slew of charges, which he calls politically motivated, and has been acquitted in some cases. However, last month he was found guilty in a corruption reference involving £190 million and sentenced to 14 years in prison.
His lawyer’s arrest comes as PTI prepares to observe February 8 as “Black Day,” marking the first anniversary of Pakistan’s last general election, whose results the party has disputed.
“Former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s lawyer, Advocate Faisal Chaudhry, has been arrested outside Adiala Jail,” PTI announced in a post on social media platform X. “He, along with other lawyers, had gone to get Imran Khan’s power of attorney signed. He was taken away by a heavy contingent of forces.”
The party condemned the arrest and demanded Chaudhry’s immediate release.
While there has been no official government statement on the development, local media widely reported the incident, with a leading channel quoting police sources as saying the arrest was linked to a verbal altercation with a jail officer a day earlier.
“They [the police] arrested the lawyer for using derogatory language against jail officer Imran Riaz a day ago,” Geo TV reported, citing police sources.
The exchange reportedly took place on Thursday after Chaudhry was denied permission to meet Khan.
However, Chaudhry told the media his only fault was relaying the former prime minister’s conversations to the public after their previous meetings.
Imran Khan’s party says his lawyer arrested outside Rawalpindi’s high-security prison
https://arab.news/pdqdz
Imran Khan’s party says his lawyer arrested outside Rawalpindi’s high-security prison
- Local news outlet says Faisal Chaudhry was arrested after a verbal altercation with police a day earlier
- Khan’s opposition PTI party condemns the development, calling for his lawyer’s immediate release
Pakistan telecom authority approves PTCL’s $400 million deal to acquire Telenor
- Deal will see PTCL’s mobile arm Ufone merge with Telenor Pakistan to create second-largest mobile operator
- Regulator says will closely monitor transaction, urges both companies to ensure continuity, quality of services
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) announced this week it has granted a no objection certificate to the Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) to push ahead with its $400 million deal to acquire Telenor Pakistan.
The major acquisition, which was announced earlier this year, will merge PTCL’s mobile arm Ufone with Telenor Pakistan to create the country’s second-largest mobile operator.
The development takes place as Pakistan’s telecom industry faces rising costs and regulatory pressures.
“PTA evaluated the transaction’s impact on market competition and consumer interests, and consulted relevant government bodies to ensure full compliance with statutory requirements,” the authority said in a statement issued late Saturday.
The PTA said both companies must ensure continuity and quality of services to consumers, urging them to uphold all license obligations during the transaction.
“PTA will closely monitor the process to safeguard consumer rights and maintain a competitive and forward-looking telecom sector,” it added.
PTCL had earlier said the acquisition will improve customer experience, enhance network quality and coverage, while enabling the whole sector to achieve greater efficiency, build resilient infrastructure and create a more competitive landscape.
The deal is expected to reshape Pakistan’s telecom landscape, which has four major operators but remains under pressure from thin margins, high spectrum fees and heavy capital expenditure needs.
