UPND Vice-President Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba has been arrested and charged with unlawful drilling.
UPND President Hakainde Hichilema, who accompanied GBM to Woodlands Police station this morning, was teargassed by the police offices together with other senior party officials that included Vice-President Dr. Canisius Banda, several MPs, and supporters that went to offer solidarity.
GBM, whose interogation lasted for over 3 hours, has been detained at Woodlands Police station and is scheduled to appear in court later Wednesday afternoon.
In the course of the interrogations the police wanted to take GBM for a search at his Luanshya road premises where some UPND youths were picked up and arrested for unlawful training.
But the lawyers insisted that they could not allow their client to have his premises searched because they have been under police security and guard since Saturday.
Speaking shortly after escorting his Vice-President for Administration to the holding cells, Mr. Hichilema described the action as suppression of human rights.
Mr. Hichilema has since appealed to all UPND members and sympathisers to remain calm as the UPND is a peaceful party.
Police threw teargas canisters when the UPND President was still confering with his lawyers outside the police station.
The UPND leadership and lawyers were conferring on how to quickly obtain a police bond for GBM.
Mr. Hichilema, who could hardly speak after inhaling teargas smoke, was heard describing the situation as unfortunate.
The police also teargassed school children who were walking home.