Former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party announced on Friday that Ahmed Waqas Janjua, the party’s media manager, has returned home after spending 25 days in detention. Janjua was arrested on terrorism and cybercrime charges, which PTI claims were fabricated.
Last month, PTI reported that Janjua had been “abducted” from his home by armed men who seized his laptop, mobile phone, and other electronic devices. He was subsequently brought before an anti-terrorism court where police alleged they had found explosive materials in his possession. Additionally, Janjua was charged under cybercrime laws and allegedly made a statement during the investigation claiming that PTI’s social media team was creating an “anti-state narrative” with support from internal and external forces.
PTI has dismissed these allegations as a “fake confession,” questioning the circumstances under which the statement was obtained and suggesting it may not be admissible in court.
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In a social media post, PTI announced, “Ahmed Janjua is back. PTI’s central media department member & international media coordinator @AhmedWJanjua was abducted & disappeared.” The post continued, “After the court intervened, he was presented and falsely charged with terrorism. The court granted bail, but authorities initially refused to release him. Finally, after 25 days of illegal detention, Ahmed Janjua has returned home.”
PTI has accused the government of a state-backed crackdown against its leaders and members, including bans on rallies and arrests. The government, however, denies targeting opposition parties.
Imran Khan, PTI’s founder and former Prime Minister, has been imprisoned for over a year. Although previous convictions against him were suspended or overturned, he remains in jail on new charges. Khan claims these legal actions are politically motivated attempts to keep him out of politics and undermine PTI’s popularity.
