PTI supporter charged with violence, threats against Sharif family in London

LONDON: The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has charged Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) activist Gulfam Hussain for issuing threats of violence to the Sharif family members and for carrying out the act of violence.

Sources said Hussain has been charged and taken into the police custody. He will appear in court in the next two days. He was arrested four days ago when he breached the police conditions by coming near the Sharif family flats on the day Nawaz Sharif reached London.

The original complaint to the police was made by Khurram Butt, PML-N UK’s Youth Wing leader who recently petitioned Oxford University against Imran Khan’s bid to become the Chancellor.

Butt said: said: “Gulfam has been charged by the CPS. The CPS has confirmed Hussain has been charged with violence, stalking and harassment. This sends out a clear message that anyone involved in violence will be brought to justice. I had provided the full trail of evidence to the police, showing involvement of Hussain in violence, stalking, harassment and threats.”

In middle of January this year, Scotland Yard had released Gulfam Hussain on bail but banned him from going anywhere near Avenfield flats where members of the Sharif family live.

Hussain, who was in PML-N till joining PTI last year, was arrested by the police on January 17 for threatening to harm Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, former PM Nawaz Sharif and other members of the Sharif family including a threat to blow up the Park Lane flats – live on TikTok.

Gulfam Hussain had spoken to Geo News immediately after his release in January. He had said: “The police have banned me from going near the Sharif family’s Avenfield flats or I will be arrested again. I am on bail till April. The police arrested and showed me videos I uploaded on TikTok. These were political statements. I don’t believe in violence. I will continue my struggle.”

He had also confirmed that the police seized his four mobile phones while the investigation goes on.

He said he was upset after PTI founder Imran Khan was convicted in the £190 million case. He said: “I went there for the live show because some supporters of PTI asked me to prove my loyalty and I had to show them that I am actually really against the Sharifs.”

In one of the recent TikTok broadcasts, the PTI activist had threatened to blow up the Avenfield apartments. He had threatened while speaking to his TikTok followers that he will practically “drag” members of the Sharif family on London streets and that he will “avenge” if Imran Khan is harmed in Pakistan.

Hussain was a vocal supporter of PML-N till around four months ago. He used to fight with PTI supporters outside Avenfield flats and elsewhere.

He then joined PTI and became vocal on social media for PTI. He used to go live on TikTok on a daily basis and quit his job as a trained chef to focus on live shows.