US shows concerns over arrests of PTI leaders

The United States (US) on Wednesday expressed concerns over the political situation in the country and the arrests of the leaders of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).

Addressing the weekly press briefing in Washington, US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller asked the Pakistani government to uphold democracy and respect human rights in the country.

"We have seen the reports of the arrests of PTI leaders. We are always concerned when we see arrests of opposition leaders and especially arrests of spokespersons,” he said.

“We support a peaceful upholding of the democratic principles, rule of law, equal justice under the law, and respect human rights like freedom of expression, and favour a peaceful assembly in accordance to Pakistan’s constitution's laws,” Miller added. 

The US stance came after the arrests of the PTI information secretary Raoof Hasan and other members from the party’s secretariat in Islamabad.

A day earlier, Raoof Hasan and other members of the PTI media cell were handed over to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) for a two-day physical remand, and two women were sent to jail on judicial remand.