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Singer Salman Ahmad arrested in Islamabad, manages to escape

Other bigwigs from the industry like Hamza Ali Abbasi may be arrested if they participate in the protest

Updated 20 Mar, 2018

Salman Ahmad was arrested by Islamabad police at Imran Khan's estate Bani Gala, however, he claims he managed to escape.

The Junoon singer was arrested in front of PTI Chairman Imran Khan ahead of their protest against PML-N that is to take place on 2nd November.

He tweeted an old picture of him with Khan and Sheikh Rasheed on his way to the PTI chief's house saying, "Getting ready for Jazba Junoon!"

His excitement was short-lived as he was arrested by Islamabad police upon reaching Khan's residence Bani Gala.

Speaking to Dawn News, Ahmad said, "We haven't broken any laws; if they are treating us that way then how will they treat other civilians? The police didn't close the [police car] door properly, and I escaped. I can't disclose where I am at the moment but I will bring a case against these people."

It is also being reported that he was released on the orders of IG Sindh

While the singer is saying that he escaped at his own volition, it is now being reported that he was released on the orders of IG Sindh.

Dawn News reporter Aamir Jami said that Hamza Ali Abbasi may too be at risk of being arrested if he makes his way to Bani Gala to participate in the protest. Names of PTI supporters in the entertainment industry have been listed by the police and will be arrested if they are part of the protest.

However, this doesn't seem to have fazed Abbasi since he took to Facebook to make his intentions clear:

In another Facebook post, he also said: "As a PAKISTANI i will be a part of 2nd November Movement even if it means an end to my media career and my fan base."

Comments

From twin cities Oct 28, 2016 05:52pm

It is time for Pakistani to stand against corruptions.

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Dr Riffat Jabeen Oct 28, 2016 06:07pm

Govt should act reasonably!!!!!

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Arif Maroof Oct 28, 2016 06:11pm

IG Sindh seems to be more sensible than IG punjab.

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Dr Riffat Jabeen Oct 28, 2016 06:15pm

How far they can go to avoid accountability?

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Khan Oct 28, 2016 06:35pm

Great sentiment from Abbassi that us the way to go.

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saeeds Oct 28, 2016 07:16pm

Pakistan biggest problem everyone is reformer but they can't reform there house and neighbor .

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Farrukh Oct 28, 2016 07:37pm

WD Salman and Humza. Our prayers and best wished with IK.

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azam kadeer Oct 28, 2016 08:00pm

This Dherna is for corruption or music concert? what kind of Pakistan will be?

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Masood Oct 28, 2016 08:17pm

Shame on police to have arrested a renowned singer and peace activist!! Salman Ahmed's contributions to Pakistan are unmeasurable including building positive image of Pakistan at home and abroad.

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shahzad Oct 28, 2016 08:39pm

@azam kadeer A Pakistan that will be corruption free and one you will enjoy living in with harmony with others around you.

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Umar Oct 28, 2016 09:00pm

@azam kadeer If one is a musician by profession, why the hell can't he stand up against corruption? Not everybody's heart is as black. Some people really care about Pakistan my friend! They are not there to become billionaires, unlike some people!

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Prateik Oct 28, 2016 09:31pm

Salman Ahmed is innocent.

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Ijaz Oct 28, 2016 09:39pm

Punjab police are so incompetent that they cant even arrest people securely!

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Bin Adam Oct 28, 2016 09:43pm

Instead of sorting out the matters in Assemblies or Courts of Laws, attempts to seize the power through dharnas followed with provocative speeches and threads of long siege of capital cities with highly security sensitive public outlets and paralyzing the economic and day to day functions of the state did not happen even in civilized movement against Govts.

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Ghaznavi Oct 28, 2016 09:48pm

Evading arrest is a crime. The singer must be arrested and punished according to the law. Laws must not be bent just because fame is on someones credentials. He is model to many and should have set an example by obeying the law.

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Farooq Jawed Oct 28, 2016 10:02pm

Here we go again. Another protest against the govt. The people who are going to suffer are the ordinary citizens, their life would be disrupted there will be streel violence and chaos, and nothing would have changed. This is what happened last time when there was a Dharna. Instead what we got was a precedent that was set by Imran Khan, that since has been emulated by the religious parties earlier this year in Islamabad with lots of Govt. property damage. This nonsense of illegal Dharnas must stop. There is got to be a better way to protest instead of occupying streets and making life a living hell for ordinary citizens of the area.

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Adil Jadoon Oct 28, 2016 10:13pm

On orders of IG Sindh in Islamabad....lol....oh my god, what a country

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Muslim Oct 28, 2016 10:13pm

@Dr Riffat Jabeen demand reasonable behavior from most unreasonable of all

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Waqas Ahmed Oct 28, 2016 10:37pm

Bravo Salman Ahmad and Hamza Ali Abbasi. I hope other celebrities too brave up and get out of their boxes to stand up against this Badshahat of Shareefs which is sinking our country.

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Habib Oct 28, 2016 10:46pm

There shall be other ways to protest Not holding economy in crisis further

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SBB Oct 28, 2016 11:24pm

What's up with the fancy hats? Why do these guys wear them? Just curious.

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Rao Gladiator Oct 28, 2016 11:32pm

shameful action by pml-n actuallu they got frightened from revolution in form of imran khan ,captain keep it up !dont lose heart.

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MSAlvi Oct 29, 2016 12:19am

The protest has not even started yet. Under what law are they arresting them?

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Najam Oct 29, 2016 12:32am

PMLN should try to find a way out and make sure these hooligans don't create same situation as in 2014

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Tahir Ali Virk Oct 29, 2016 12:48am

Resistance shown by the PM provides ample evidence of misdeeds committed, if there is nothing to hide,why not TOR accepted???

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Tahir Ali Virk Oct 29, 2016 12:52am

@azam kadeer it is the way to enhance participation, cause is genuine and sacred

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Shadab Khan Oct 29, 2016 01:16am

I am with u Imran

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shahid Oct 29, 2016 01:25am

illegal government doing illegal acts..

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Sajid Ali Oct 29, 2016 01:43am

@Dr Riffat Jabeen Sure..but since they d lost all the reasons cause at one side they allowed the banned outfit to hold big rally in the same Islamabad even sec 144 was there how can they stop a political party.

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Zak Oct 29, 2016 02:34am

With these antics, will Nawaz finish his term, 3 Rd time. Will he, won't he?

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Zuhair Zahid Oct 29, 2016 03:00am

Shame on government Salman Ahmed is our proud Pakistani Junoon represent Pakistan all over in the World. Heroes are Zeros And Zeros are Heroes Government and system Shame on u

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Safdar Oct 29, 2016 03:39am

Released at the orders of IG Singh??

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Sarwat Oct 29, 2016 05:45am

I hope the names of the bigwigs of Punjab and Islamabad Police have been noted to be dealt with later on for violating civic rights of the protestors.

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Umreekan_Sundi Oct 29, 2016 06:18am

He was released immediately after he threaten to start singing

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Limitless obsessions Oct 29, 2016 07:12am

@Arif Maroof .Yelp Sindhi's are cool,friendly compassionate, and very caring guys. Since IG Sindh knew Salman Ahmed as good guy, he got him released .

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Limitless obsessions Oct 29, 2016 07:15am

@Masood .He has served as UN Goodwill Ambassador for HIV/AIDS.

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Waqas Shaikh Oct 29, 2016 04:17pm

@From twin cities By working with the most corrupt people including Jehangir Tehreen, Sheikh Rashid, Chowdhry Brothers, and Tahir UL Qadri. Is that true?

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Jawed Mirza Oct 29, 2016 05:00pm

It was Jazba Junoon that helped him escape

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Tauqeer Oct 29, 2016 06:23pm

Salman Ahmed is a US citizen. Who is he to decide who should rule Pakistan? It's none of his business.

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Tauqeer Oct 29, 2016 06:24pm

@Zuhair Zahid he is so proud of being Pakistani that he obtained a US passport. Nice joke!

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Tauqeer Oct 29, 2016 06:27pm

@Masood Yes he has right to indulge in Pakistan politics as long as he doesn't hold a US passport.

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sultan ahmed Oct 29, 2016 07:47pm

Yes we are going to,

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Friendly Huda Oct 30, 2016 11:17pm

@From twin cities I wish Pakistani big politicians would be corruption free!! I remember the day when I was reading a magazine in the transit lobby of Seoul's Incheon airport and found out an interesting chapter about Pakistan's Five- Year Plans of Pakistan. Pakistan was the role model for the economic planners of South Korean govt. during early seventies. Couldn't believe my eyes! 40 years later there is no comparison in between Seoul and Islamabad. Very strange! and painful as well. At the end all I can say that corruption and nepotism has almost broke the backbone of Pakistan. Pakistanis, still you have time to fix all these problem Fight together against corruption , uplift the rule of the law and educate your mass on science and technology. You can make it happen if you want to. Long live Pakistan and her hard working people!

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Mahmood Oct 31, 2016 07:12am

@Habib What economy , and for whom ?

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