Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) Chairman Sahibzada Hamid Raza was arrested by Islamabad police early Friday morning and later handed over to Faisalabad police.
He was then transferred to Faisalabad Central Prison.
Sources said Raza was wanted in several cases related to vandalism and violent protests against state institutions and had already been convicted by an anti-terrorism court. He had been convicted in connection with the May 9 riots but had since been on the run, they added.
Police said Raza was produced before a court, which ordered his transfer to Faisalabad Central Jail.
A Special Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Faisalabad convicted Raza along with several Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders, including Omar Ayub, Shibli Faraz and Zartaj Gul, in a case registered following the May 9, 2023 violence at the Civil Lines Police Station.
The convicts were sentenced to 45 years in prison in several cases linked to the violent protests.
The events of May 9, 2023 refer to the violent protests that erupted in several parts of the country following the arrest of the PTI founder and saw attacks on public properties and military installations, including the Corps Commander’s House in Lahore, also known as Jinnah House.
The riots were triggered by the arrest of former Prime Minister Khan at the premises of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) in a corruption case.
Several PTI leaders and workers were released on bail after their arrest, while many of them are still behind bars.
The deposed prime minister, who was ousted from power by the opposition’s motion of no confidence in April 2022, has been behind bars since August 2023 while facing a series of charges ranging from corruption to terrorism.
