FAISALABAD, Pakistan: In another manifestation of unprecedented fascism being faced by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), the PTI Candidate for PP-118 Faisalabad-XXI and former Provincial Minister of Punjab for Culture and Colonies Khayal Ahmad Kastro was dragged and abducted in the broad daylight on Friday from outside the Session Court by unknown people.
Khayal Kastro had been granted bail by the Court but yet unidentified individuals without any uniform forcibly abducted him.
سابق صوبائی وزیر اور تحریک انصاف کے ٹکٹ ہولڈر خیال احمد کاسترو کو سیشن کورٹ کے سامنے سے نامعلوم افراد بدترین طریقے اے تشدد کر کے اغوا کر کے لے گئے
اتنی کھلی درندگی پر بھی کیا سپریم کورٹ جیسے ادارے خواب خرگوش میں رہیں گے؟ pic.twitter.com/ycDbVHCwqZ
— PTI (@PTIofficial) January 19, 2024
Khayal Ahmad Kastro was elected to the Punjab Assembly as a PTI Candidate from PP-110 Faisalabad-XIV in the 2018 provincial elections.
In December 2020, he was appointed as the Provincial Minister of Punjab for Culture and Colonies.
Now again he is running for a Punjab Assembly Seat from PP-116 Faisalabad-XX.
In a statement, the Secretary General PTI Omar Ayub Khan strongly condemned the abduction of Kastro.
“There is no justice or rule of law in Pakistan. There is no level playing field,” Omar Ayub wrote on X.
Unconstitutional measures are being seen before the court. In a civilized society, the rule of law prevails, but in the current situation, the system of law and justice has lost its importance.Such unlawful treatment of any individual is deplorable and reprehensible.We appeal to… https://t.co/1ufwEMr3Hr
— Human Rights Council of Pakistan 🇵🇰 (@HRCPakistan) January 19, 2024
The PTI also termed the abduction as “shameful and disgusting”, and noted that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has completely failed in their job to ensure free and fair election.
Former minister & PTI candidate being dragged and abducted from outside court. What shameful optics from elections in Pakistan. https://t.co/Atx5KMPhkn
— Hammad Azhar (@Hammad_Azhar) January 19, 2024