Shaukat Khaqan Abbasi, a leader of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), has spoken out against the planned arrest of Shaukat Tarin, a senator of the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party and former finance minister.
Tarin is accused of attempting to disrupt talks with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Abbasi believes that Tarin should be tried in court instead of being detained. He has also stated that he is not in favor of “political revenge” against Tarin.
In addition to his comments on Tarin’s case, Abbasi discussed his party’s internal affairs.
He declared that he would not become part of any new leadership under the supervision of Maryam Nawaz, as he is a companion of Nawaz Sharif.
Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah’s authorization of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to arrest Shaukat Tarin has been met with opposition from Abbasi.
The FIA’s cyber crime wing has registered a case against Tarin under the Pakistan Electronic Crimes Act (PICA) on the complaint of Arshad Mehmood. Tarin has been charged with sedition and provocation.