By The South Asia Times

ISLAMABAD - Following the arrest of a key opposition leader of former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s party, Pakistani authorities on Monday has sealed the house of former Interior Minister and close aid of Khan in Rawalpindi city.

Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, who is also chief of his party, Awami Muslim League and allay of Khan, house known as “Lal Havili” located in Rawalpindi, adjacent to the capital Islamabad, has been sealed by authorities over “illegal occupation.” 

“Those who carried out bloodshed on government at midnight [in April 2022], have now attacked on the Lal Haveli at night. The Lal Haveli is less than 5 marla. It is our personal property and it is the central secretariat of the public service. They asked Rangers and FC for help but they refused and later attacked on my home along with FIA and Police,” Sheikh Rashid tweeted. 

The local deputy commissioner of The Evacuee Trust Property Board, Asif Khan said they have sealed two units of the Lal Haveli and five adjoining units after teams of the board along with the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) arrived at the spot early morning today, Dawn reported.

Khan and his party Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf strongly condemned the government's action against his ally and said they will stand behind Rashid.

“In order to put pressure on Sheikh Rasheed, a plan is being made to attack and vandalize his house with government machinery. Tehreek-e-Insaf strongly condemns this illegal terrorism and stands with Sheikh Rasheed,” Asad Umar, Secretary General of PTI said. 

Last week, government also arrested Fawad Chaudhry, Vice President of PTI and former Information Minister over his alleged threat to the country's Election Commission and registered a sedition case against the senior politician. 

Chaudhery is still in police custody in Islamabad. 

Khan is demanding for immediate elections after dissolved the two provincial assemblies of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces, however, the ruling 13 parties alliance hesitate to contest the election against Khan due to his overwhelming popularity in the country. 

Khan last week claimed that the ruling alliance's key leader and former president Asif Zardari hitching conspiracy to kill him through a terrorist group. 

Khan survived an assassination attempt in November last year and still, he is unable to walk due to injuries as bullets caused a bone fracture to his leg.