PTI Lawmaker Picked Up in Mardan as Doctors' Leaders Detained in Peshawar
A sitting member of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly was allegedly taken away by masked men in Mardan on Thursday, October 8, while on his way to join a chief minister-led PTI march toward Islamabad, as the party’s Peshawar chapter claimed two leaders of its doctors’ wing were also picked up in the provincial capital the same day.
PTI lawmaker picked up: what happened at Kuragh Chowk
Treasury benches MPA Abdus Salam Afridi was travelling to attend a fateha when masked men in three vehicles intercepted his car about a furlong from his residence at Kuragh Chowk in Mardan, according to his driver. Afridi was on his way to join the protest march to Islamabad led by the provincial chief minister.
PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan visited Afridi’s Mardan residence and condemned the detention, saying such actions would only escalate tensions at a time when talks are under way between the sides.
Doctors’ wing leaders picked up in Peshawar, PTI claims
PTI Peshawar president Irfan Saleem said Insaf Doctors Forum provincial president Dr Nabi Jan and the forum’s general secretary Dr Saad were picked up on Thursday. The IDF is the doctors’ wing of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf.
Witnesses said uniformed personnel took the two men and opened fire during the episode, injuring three people. One of the injured, Dr Zain, was shifted to the Khyber Teaching Hospital.
Doctors’ bodies condemn, demand security law enforced
The Provincial Doctors Association and the Young Doctors Association condemned the incidents. Both bodies demanded that the province’s 2020 law on the security of healthcare workers be enforced without delay.
Swabi FIR over PTI lawmaker’s brother
In a separate development, an FIR was registered in Swabi over the reported kidnapping of the brother of PTI lawmaker Abdul Karim along with three of his guards.
What happens next
The claims land at a tense moment. PTI has announced a march toward Islamabad, postponed from September 27 to October 4, with KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi at the head of the caravan. The federal government has meanwhile warned it could consider extraordinary measures in the province, including governor’s rule, citing the law and order situation.
Whether Thursday’s alleged pickups signal a wider crackdown ahead of the march remains unclear. No official police statement on the alleged detentions had surfaced by the time of publication.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Abdus Salam Afridi?
He is a member of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly from the treasury benches. He was allegedly intercepted by masked men at Kuragh Chowk in Mardan on October 8 while heading to join the PTI march to Islamabad.
What did PTI claim about the Insaf Doctors Forum leaders?
PTI’s Peshawar president Irfan Saleem claimed the forum’s provincial president Dr Nabi Jan and general secretary Dr Saad were picked up on Thursday. Witnesses said uniformed men fired during the incident, injuring three people including Dr Zain.
What do the doctors’ associations want?
The PDA and YDA have condemned the incidents and want the 2020 provincial law protecting healthcare workers to be enforced.
What happened in Swabi?
Police registered an FIR over the reported kidnapping of PTI lawmaker Abdul Karim’s brother and three guards.
Is the PTI march on Islamabad still planned?
PTI has announced a march to the federal capital, now set for October 4 after a postponement from September 27, led by KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi. The party has not announced any change of plan.
