ISLAMABAD – Sunni Ittehad Council leader Sahibzada Hamid Raza was arrested early Friday morning by Islamabad Police while traveling from Peshawar to Faisalabad, his brother confirmed. The arrest reportedly took place near the D-12 intersection around 2 a.m.
Acting chairman of the Sunni Ittehad Council, Sahibzada Hassan Raza, said that his brother was taken into custody by Islamabad Police. “He was supposed to appear before the Faisalabad Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) today to surrender himself,” he added.
According to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) spokesperson Sheikh Waqas Akram, police stopped several vehicles near the D-12 junction and detained Hamid Raza, who was on his way to Faisalabad. In a post on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Akram stated that Raza had already announced his intention to surrender two days earlier. He further claimed that Raza was not wanted in any active case by Islamabad Police.
Sahibzada Hamid Raza, a sitting MNA, had been sentenced to 10 years in prison in connection with the May 9 riots, which involved nationwide protests and violent incidents in 2023. Prior to his arrest, Raza had publicly expressed his plan to surrender before the Faisalabad ATC to face legal proceedings.
Following the arrest, Hamid Raza was reportedly produced before the Anti-Terrorism Court. The move has sparked political debate and renewed tension between the government and opposition parties.
The Sunni Ittehad Council, which has emerged as a key ally of the PTI in recent months, condemned the arrest, calling it an act of political victimization. Party members argue that Raza’s detention, just hours before his planned surrender, raises serious questions about the timing and motive behind the operation.
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Observers believe the arrest may further strain relations between the coalition government and opposition blocs, deepening Pakistan’s ongoing political divide.
