Sufi, who heads the banned Tehrik-e-Nifaz-e-Shariah Muhammadi, was arrested with his sons Ziaullah and Rizwanullah and an accomplice by a large police contingent during a raid in the City Town area of Peshawar. The four men were taken away to an unknown location. Mian Iftikhar Hussain, Information Minister for NWFP, told a news conference that Sufi Muhammad was arrested for speaking against the government and encouraging violence and terrorism in Malakand division, which includes the Swat valley.
“We arrested him under the Maintenance of Public Order (law) for the sake of maintaining peace and security,” Hussain said.
(Published 26 July 2009, 17:12 IST)
JOIN US