ISLAMABAD, July 16: Amid behind the scene negotiations and finding no support from his party, Anjum Aqeel, a Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) MNA from Islamabad facing two cases of land fraud, was finally arrested on Saturday.
After his supporters forcibly took him out of the police custody on Friday amid firing in the air and scuffles, he now also faces more charges, including the terrorism act. A local court had also declared him proclaimed offender. He was detained at Kohsar police station.
The legislator, facing a Rs6 billion land scam in National Police Foundation, was arrested on Friday night in a fraud case registered last year.
On Saturday evening, the MNA was spotted near Karachi Company in a fleet of vehicles, majority of them his supporters. Shortly afterwards his vehicle was surrounded by police mobiles, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Bani Amin Khan told Dawn .
To avoid conflict with his supporters, the legislator`s vehicle was allowed to move forward but others in his fleet were intercepted at different check points, he said. The MNA`s vehicle was finally stopped in sector F-7 and he was arrested.
The IGP said the legislator was scheduled to address a press conference and planned to surrender himself either at National Press Club or Shalimar police station.
Mr Khan said the MP would be produced before the Anti-Terrorist Court`s duty magistrate on Sunday (today) for seeking physical remand.
His arrest came about after hectic daylong negotiations between PML-N lawmakers, mostly from Rawalpindi and Islamabad, and police officials. The district and sessions court`s decision to declare him proclaimed offender on the request of police also forced Anjum Aqeel to surrender.
Shalimar police had approached the court of Senior Civil Judge Rai Laiquat Ali Kharal for declaring the MNA proclaimed offender after a case was registered against him and others for his escape from custody on Friday night.
The case was registered on charges of 7ATA (Anti-Terrorism Act) and PPCs 224, 225, 324, 353, 427, 148, 149, 186, 188 and 109 against Aqeel Anujm and 86 persons.
Sources said after he was declared proclaimed offender, Anjum Aqeel approached the police bosses through party MNAs, outlining his terms for surrender.
On condition of anonymity, a senior police officer said the legislator agreed to surrender himself but added he would not be handcuffed or detained in a lock-up. Moreover, during his detention at a private place, he asked for VIP protocol. He also asked the police not to seek his judicial or physical remand and wanted `help` in seeking bail. The terms were tabled before Interior Minister Rehman Malik, who turned them down and asked the police to arrest him, the officer said, adding that 20 relatives of the legislator were also nabbed. Out of them, 15 have been nominated in the case. The officer said the legislator made two attempts during the day to enter the capital, but returned after seeing heavy presence of police at pickets.
At the time of arrest, three people, including two MNAs, were accompanying him.
IGP Khan 31 persons, including PML-N activists and supporters of Anjum Aqeel, were arrested for Friday night`s attack on police team.
Meanwhile, 13 policemen, including former SHO Shalimar, were booked under PPCs 225, 223, 224 and 462 for negligence which helped the escape of Anjum Aqeel. They were produced in the court of executive judicator, Assistant Commissioner Fareeduddin and released on bail against Rs50,000 surety bonds each.
The FIR registered against the policemen stated that the inspector, sub-inspector, assistant sub-inspector, head constables and constables acted cowardly as the MNA was taken away by his supporters.
Meanwhile, a judicial inquiry ordered by the interior minister also held the police officials responsible for the MNA`s escape on Friday night