Senator Azam Swati was arrested in the early hours of Sunday morning by FIA officials from his farmhouse in Islamabad. The arrest has been made for the tweets the PTI senator fired on November 26, criticizing military top brass.

The FIA has also lodged a fresh case against Swati while Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) has barred private-run TV channels from airing any of Swati’s statements or the content of his tweets. They cannot even run it in the format of news flash or tickers, an order issued Sunday said.

Soon after the arrest, a video of Swati made it to social media, showing the senator outside his house as the law enforcement officers prepare to take him into custody.

He says that law enforcement had followed procedure by bringing an arrest warrant for him this time, unlike on the previous occasion when, according to the Senator, he was humiliated in front of his family members.

“I am not running away,” said Swati.

PTI leader and former rights minister Shireen Mazari tweeted the video and questioned if the Senate Chairman, Sadiq Sanjrani, had approved the arrest. Under the law, members of Parliament cannot be arrested without permission from the Senate chairman or National Assembly speaker.

New outburst leads to fresh FIR

A fresh FIR was also lodged against Swati at the FIA’s cybercrimes wing on the complaint of FIA’s Technical Assistant Anees Ur Rehman under Section 20 of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) and sections 109 (derogatory remarks), 131 (abetting mutiny) 500, 501 and 505 (defamation) of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC).

Swati had used aggressive language in a tweet against a senior military official whom he has accused of overseeing custodial torture and making and circulating obscene videos of him and his wife. He also spoke against his alleged torture at the PTI’s Saturday rally in Rawalpindi, saying that he would do whatever it takes to get justice.

At the rally, the Senator assailed outgoing Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa.

Swati, who faced a probe in 2019 over the source of his wealth, called on the outing COAS to explain his assets.

Azam Swati was also arrested in a raid on October 13 for tweeting a controversial statement against the military chief. He later alleged that he had been tortured in custody.

Reaction from PTI

PTI Chairman Imran Khan said that the arrest showed Pakistan’s descent into the state of being a banana republic.

“I am shocked & appalled at how rapidly we are descending into not just a banana republic but a fascist state. How can anyone not understand the pain & suffering Senator Swati underwent with custodial torture & blackmailing video of him & his conservative wife sent to his family?”

“Everyone must raise their voice against this state fascism,” he wrote.

Asad Umar said that the senator had conducted himself with dignity when arrested, indicating he is fighting for a principle.

“Whatever happens must do so within the ambit of the law.”