Barrister Gohar claims Salman Akram Raja detained by police

Barrister Gohar Ali Khan has claimed that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Secretary General Salman Akram Raja was detained by police, while raising concerns over alleged arrests of party workers and lawmakers.

In a post on X, Gohar said he had been informed by Shaukat Basra that Raja had been detained at a police station for approximately two hours.

The PTI chairman condemned the reported detention and demanded Raja’s immediate release. The claim was made on September 17, amid heightened political activity and legal action involving PTI members.

What Barrister Gohar claimed

Gohar wrote, “I have just been informed by Shaukat Basra Adv that Secretary General PTI Salman Akram Raja has been detained at police station by the police for the last two hours.”

He described the reported action as unlawful and called for Raja to be released immediately. He also alleged that around 700 PTI workers had been arrested during the previous few days.

Gohar further claimed that arrest warrants had been issued against members of the National Assembly and provincial lawmakers. However, his post did not provide a complete list of the alleged detainees or copies of the warrants.

The specific claim that Raja had been detained for two hours was not independently confirmed by police in the information available at the time of reporting.

I have just been informed by Shaukat Basra Adv that Secretary General PTI Salman Akram Raja has been detained at police station by the police for the last two hours. I strongly condemned this and called upon his immediate release. For the last few days about 700 workers have been arrested, warrants of arrests have been issued against MNAs and MPAs. This is all illegal. This must end now - ایک ریاست دو دستور نامنظور

— Barrister Gohar Khan (@BarristerGohar) September 17, 2026

Reports of PTI workers being taken into custody

The claim comes as PTI has reported arrests and legal action against its workers and leaders in different parts of the country.

Recent reports indicate that dozens of party workers and activists have been taken into custody in Punjab. PTI officials have also alleged that arrests were carried out in connection with preparations for planned political protests.

In one recent development, party representatives claimed that 119 prominent workers and activists had been arrested in six districts of Rawalpindi division over two days. They further claimed that the total number of detained workers in north Punjab had reached 225.

These figures were presented by party officials and have not been independently verified as a complete province-wide total. The exact number of people currently in custody may differ as cases and detentions continue to develop.

Arrest warrants and legal proceedings

Legal action has also been reported against PTI lawmakers in cases linked to the November 26, 2024 protests.

An Anti-Terrorism Court in Islamabad reportedly issued non-bailable arrest warrants for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi and other PTI-backed lawmakers in a case registered at Ramna Police Station.

In a separate proceeding, the court reportedly issued warrants for eight PTI parliamentarians and 709 other accused in another case related to the same protests.

The issuance of arrest warrants is a court process and does not, by itself, establish that every person named has been arrested. The individuals involved may challenge the allegations or seek legal relief through the courts.

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Court intervention over alleged harassment

The reported detention claim also follows court proceedings concerning alleged harassment and arrests of PTI leaders.

The Islamabad High Court recently heard a petition involving claims that PTI leaders were being harassed or targeted ahead of a proposed September 27 protest. The court reportedly directed the relevant police official to appear and respond to the allegations.

During the proceedings, lawyers representing the petitioners raised concerns about alleged raids and arrests of party workers. Other allegations concerning the treatment of individuals and the taking of valuables were also raised.

The allegations remain part of ongoing legal proceedings. A court hearing or interim order should not automatically be treated as a final finding on every claim made by either side.

Raja’s earlier legal and political role

Salman Akram Raja is a senior lawyer and serves as PTI’s secretary general. He has been involved in several important legal matters concerning the party and its leadership.

He was also a PTI-affiliated candidate in the 2024 general election from Lahore. His political role expanded after he was appointed to the party’s senior leadership.

Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, who made the latest claim, is the chairman of PTI and a lawyer who has represented the party in several legal and constitutional matters.

Both leaders have remained active in the party’s legal and political response to cases involving PTI workers and leadership.