Police confirm formal arrest; lawyer transferred to Adiala jail checkpost
RAWALPINDI: Faisal Chaudhry, a legal representative of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan, was arrested on Friday for allegedly using abusive language against an Adiala jail officer after being denied access to meet the former prime minister.
According to police sources, Chaudhry was formally taken into custody and moved to the checkpost at Adiala jail. His arrest followed an incident the previous day when he was stopped from meeting Khan, leading to a heated exchange with the jail staff.
A heavy police presence was deployed at the jail’s entrance when Chaudhry arrived to press for a meeting with the incarcerated PTI leader. Authorities claim that the lawyer directed derogatory remarks toward Assistant Superintendent Imran Riaz.
Speaking to journalists outside the jail, Chaudhry criticized the timing of his arrest, noting that a formal notice was issued only today despite the incident occurring at the internal gate a day earlier. He further stated that he had already forwarded a court order to the jail superintendent via WhatsApp.
Chaudhry maintained that his only wrongdoing was conveying Imran Khan’s message to the public. The previous day, he was involved in a verbal confrontation with jail officials after being denied entry.
In a video obtained by Geo News, Chaudhry can be heard directing expletives at Assistant Superintendent Riaz while demanding an explanation for being stopped. The jail official, in response, attempted to justify the decision.
Following the altercation, Chaudhry filed a complaint at the Adiala Jail Chowki, alleging that he was unlawfully prevented from entering despite holding legal authority to represent Khan. In his application, he stated that he was forced to wait in the deputy superintendent’s office for two hours as a consequence of his protest. He further accused the jail staff of harassment and called for legal action against those involved.
Meanwhile, Imran Khan, the 71-year-old former cricketer-turned-politician, has remained imprisoned since August 2023 following his conviction in the Toshakhana case—one of several legal proceedings initiated against him since his removal from office in April 2022.