LAHORE: The Punjab Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) arrested former Punjab Assembly deputy speaker Dost Muhammad Mazari from a hospital in Lahore. The arrest of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) defecting leader was confirmed by his cousin Shabab Mazari, who said Dost was visiting his grandfather at a hospital to inquire about his health when he was arrested.

The ACE said Dost Mazari was arrested in 28,000-kanal land grabbing case, adding that he had been issued notices twice, but he did not appear before the investigators.

PTI MNA and chairman Standing Committee Wapda, Sardar Riaz Mahmood Mazari said that Dost Mazari was arrested without showing any arrest warrant and registration of any FIR [first information report]. He said it was a false case and based on political victimisation.

Sources alleged that Dost Mazari was arrested due to pressure from Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Parvez Elahi and PTI Chairman Imran Khan. Musaddiq Abbasi played a key role in the arrest.

MNA Riaz Mazari said that they (family) of Dost Mazari were worried about whereabouts of Dost Mazari. “We contacted the ACE headquarters, but its doors were found closed. We were told that he had been shifted to undisclosed place, which was very alarming for us,” added the MNA. The ACE had summoned 10 people, including Mazari, earlier this month, in an alleged land grab case.

Others ‘involved’ in the case included Rojhan assistant commissioner (AC), area patwari, Zahid Mazari, Sher Muhammad Mazari, Manoj Kumar, ‘dafedars’ of Border Military Police Kashif and Fahad.