ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has ruled the arrest of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi under the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) law as “illegal” and ordered his release. The court’s decision came in response to a petition challenging Qureshi’s arrest, and Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb issued the release orders. Qureshi has been instructed to provide a similar undertaking to the one given by former state minister Ali Muhammad Khan. His lawyers stated that they would submit the undertaking after consulting with Qureshi.
Qureshi was one of the prominent PTI leaders arrested in Islamabad within 24 hours of the outbreak of violent protests following the arrest of former Prime Minister Imran Khan. He was taken into custody on May 11 after a police raid on Gilgit-Baltistan House in Islamabad, citing Section 3(3) of the MPO. Police at the time stated that he was arrested in connection with cases of riots and arson in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Prior to his arrest, Qureshi encouraged party workers to continue their struggle for “true freedom” in the country, emphasizing his defense of Pakistan’s interests during his tenure as Foreign Minister and his decades-long involvement in practical politics.
In addition to Qureshi’s release, the IHC has also ordered the release of Shehryar Afridi’s wife, another PTI leader who was arrested under the MPO. During the hearing, the Islamabad Inspector General informed the court that the suspect and her husband were allegedly involved in an attack on the General Headquarters in Rawalpindi. The judge instructed the police chief to take appropriate actions after consulting his legal team. The Islamabad deputy commissioner, summoned to court, stated that Afridi and his wife were arrested based on information received from the Special Branch.
Despite securing bails from the high courts, PTI leaders continue to face arrests and re-arrests, suggesting an ongoing crackdown by the authorities and the police. Party Chief Imran Khan, in a strongly-worded tweet, condemned the “detentions and abductions” of party workers and leaders as “totally illegal.”