Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Friday ordered an investigation into the arrest of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) leader Khawaja Izharul Hassan, Waqt News reported.

According to local media reports, the prime minister held a telephonic converstion with Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah and sought details of the arrest.

“Arrest of a parliamentarian without the orders of speaker is illegal. If the police officer is found responsible then he must be dealt with accordingly,” Nawaz reportedly told the Sindh chief minister.

The development comes after police personnel led by SSP Malir Rao Anwar raided Khawaja Izharul Hassan’s house and arrested the Muttahida leader.

MQM Pakistan leader Dr Farooq Sattar strongly condemned police detention of his colleague Khawaja Izharul Hassan during raid on his house, describing it as an attempt to sideline MQM Pakistan.

Sattar stated that Khawaja Izharul Hassan was taken into custody without any arrest warrants. He added that it was an insult of political and democratic system.

“It is not the matter of running party from London but it shows hostility towards MQM,” he said. “Neither accused nor anything illegal was found from the residence of Khawaja Izhar.”

SSP Malir Rao Anwar was later suspended on the directives of Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, who was reportedly unaware of the arrest in Buffer Zone area.