PTI leader Sher Afzal Marwat was taken into custody in Lahore on Thursday by police after addressing the bar association, the party said.

Video footage showed lawyers trying to rescue him as policemen dragged him to the police vehicle. He was arrested in GPO Chowk, Lahore.

“Abduction of lawyers from the premises of LHC is absolutely shameful and represents once again the respect for courts in the eyes of those in power. Caretaker government is crossing all limits of fascism,” the PTI said in a post on X, erstwhile Twitter.

The party demanded that Lahore High Court judges must ensure safe recovery of Marwat. “This is unacceptable.”

In another post, the PTI claimed that lawyers were being dragged by their collars by police within the premises of a higher court. “This is what complete lawless country looks like.”

Last week, Marwat, who is the senior vice president of the party, accused the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police of attempting to “abduct” him near the Gulabad area of province’s Lower Dir district.

But Lower Dir police denied it and added that the PTI leader was only questioned at a police checkpost.

It merits here to mention that Marwat was appointed a senior vice president last month. Reports say he became close to former prime minister Imran Khan after representing him in most of the cases against him.