Salman Akram Raja released after ‘four-hour detention’ in Islamabad

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Secretary General Salman Akram Raja was released on Thursday after being detained by Islamabad’s Nilore police for around four hours, according to the party.

Raja had travelled to Kotli Sattian to attend the funeral prayers of PTI leader Ejaz Satti and was detained by police in the Nilore area while returning, PTI spokesperson Ikhwanzada Hussain Yousafzai said earlier in a tweet.

In a statement on X following his release, Salman Akram Raja said he, Lataf Hussain Satti, Akhlaq Satti and several other party workers had been “unjustly” detained for four hours. The sole purpose was to prevent us from attending the funeral of the late Ejaz Satti. Fear of the public has stripped the decision-makers of reason and sense. Human rights have become meaningless.”

چار گھنٹے مجھے، لطاسب ستی صاحب، اخلاق ستی صاحب اور ہمارے متعدد دوستوں کو حبس بے جا میں رکھنے کے بعد رہا کر دیا گیا ہے۔ مقصد صرف اعجاز ستی مرحوم کے جنازے میں شرکت سے روکنا تھا۔ عوام کا خوف فیصلہ سازوں سے عقل و فہم چھین چکا ہے۔ انسانی حقوق بے معنی ہو چکے ہیں۔ دوستوں کا نیک تمناوں…

— salman akram raja (@salmanAraja) September 17, 2026

Raja thanked those who had expressed concern and conveyed their well-wishes during his detention.

Earlier, PTI said Raja, MNA Lataf Hussain Satti and other party workers had been detained while travelling to Kotli Sattian to attend Satti’s funeral prayers.

The party condemned the detention and alleged that the group had been prevented from attending the funeral.

The police have not publicly stated the reason for detaining Raja and the other party workers.

Raja’s detention came days after his release following another brief arrest in connection with a PTI protest. He was detained by Lahore police on September 5 and subsequently released.

Raja, a lawyer and PTI lawmaker, is serving as the party’s secretary general since September 2024.