Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan’s lawyer Faisal Chaudhry was on Friday arrested from outside Adiala Jail, former PTI leader and ex-federal minister Fawad Chaudhry revealed in a social media post.

 

“Faisal Chaudhry has been arrested outside Adiala Jail. This arrest is an insult to lawyers [sic],” Fawad wrote in a post announcing his brother’s arrest.

 

It merits a mention that the arrest comes a day after a viral video showed Faisal hurling abuses at an Adiala Jail official. The outburst allegedly stemmed from authorities denying him access to incarcerated Khan.

 

While reports quoted authorities as confirming the arrest, the reason behind it had not officially been revealed by the time of filing of this report.

 

The Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) has also issued a press release expressing concern over the arrest. “The jail administration prevented him from appearing in proceedings without legal justification. PBC considers it one of the barriers to providing justice and condemns and demands that such acts not be repeated in the future. Lawyers should be allowed to attend court proceedings and perform their professional duties freely and without any hindrance.”

 

The PBC also expressed its “great concern regarding raids on the residences of lawyers and their arrests by the Punjab Police”. 

 

Meanwhile, journalist Ali Tanoli took to X to quote Faisal. “Faisal Chaudhry, lawyer of Imran Khan, speaking outside Adiala Jail: Those who released the video, my fault is that I express Imran Khan's statements outside. What happened to me yesterday happened at the inner gate; today there has been a notice about it [sic].”

 

Self-exiled former lawmaker Moonis Elahi also condemned the arrest of Khan’s lawyer, alleging that he was arrested because “he conveyed details of Imran Khan’s letter”.

 

It merits a mention that in October 2024, Faisal was kicked out of Khan’s legal team after his brother Fawad lashed out at PTI’s incumbent leadership. PTI’s Secretary General Salman Akram Raja had removed Faisal from the PTI’s legal committee as well.

 

However, former Prime Minister Imran Khan personally intervened to resolve tensions between Barrister Raja and Faisal during the proceedings and directed the Chaudhry to rejoin the PTI legal team.

 

Faisal had earlier this week made headlines for revealing details of an alleged letter from the incarcerated PTI founder to the army chief.