Islamabad — A citizen has claimed that his brother was detained by Islamabad Police on the morning of September 27 and that officers asked him to hand over his mobile phone. According to the account, the man initially refused to provide the device and was later released.
The citizen further claimed that before release his brother was required to provide a written statement or affidavit saying he had no links with members of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf. He also expressed concern that police could be examining phones for PTI-related contacts, images, WhatsApp groups or other material.
The specific detention, alleged phone examination and written statement have not been independently verified. No publicly available Islamabad Police policy has been found stating that the mere presence of PTI-related groups, saved contacts, images or videos on a phone is by itself grounds for arrest.
In recent days, PTI leaders and workers have alleged raids and harassment by Islamabad Police. The Islamabad High Court summoned a senior police officer in a petition concerning such allegations. Separately, Islamabad Police has publicly described citywide search and combing operations in which people, homes, vehicles and other premises were checked, but those official notices did not describe a general policy of searching phones for PTI-related content.
The account is therefore being reported as an unverified citizen claim in the context of heightened political and security activity. The legality of any detention, phone search or action based on political association would depend on the specific facts and applicable law in each case.