PTI activist charged with threats, violence against Sharif family in London

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) activist Gulfam Hussain has been charged with issuing threats to the members of the Sharif family as well as carrying out violent acts against them in London, Geo News reported.

The report quoted sources as claiming that the PTI activist had been taken into police custody as the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) charged him. The action came after Hussain was apprehended four days ago for breaching police conditions and going near the Sharif family flats on the day former premier Nawaz Sharif reached London.

He will appear in court within the next two days, the report quoted sources as claiming.

Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) United Kingdom (UK) Youth Wing leader Khurram Butt, the same person who had previously petitioned Oxford University against former prime minister Imran Khan’s bid to become the chancellor, is the original complainant.

“Gulfam has been charged by the CPS. The CPS has confirmed that Hussain has been charged with violence, stalking and harassment. This sends out a clear message that anyone involved in violence will be brought to justice. I had provided the full trail of evidence to the police, showing involvement of Hussain in violence, stalking, harassment and threats,” Butt said.

Hussain, who had defected from the PML-N to join Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) last year, had also been running a social media campaign against the members of the Sharif family. He used to go live on TikTok every day and had quit his job as a trained chef to focus on live social media shows.

On January 17, police had arrested him for threatening to harm PM Shehbaz Sharif, ex-PM Nawaz and other members of the Sharif family, including a threat to blow up the Park Lane flats — live on TikTok.

Scotland Yard had later released Hussain on bail; however, it had banned him from going anywhere near the Avenfield flats.

“The police have banned me from going near the Sharif family’s Avenfield flats or I will be arrested again. I am on bail till April. The police arrested and showed me videos I uploaded on TikTok. These were political statements. I don’t believe in violence. I will continue my struggle,” he had told Geo News after his release.