F.P. Report
RAWALPINDI: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Vice-Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi, who was arrested in the light of the May 9 violent protests, has been released from Rawalpindi jail.
The jail officials confirmed the development saying that the former foreign minister was released on the court’s order.
Upon release from the Adiala Jail after almost a month of incarceration, Qureshi said that he would meet party chief Imran Khan tomorrow (Wednesday) and share his analysis of the current political situation in the country.
“I want to tell the PTI workers that the ‘flag of justice’ is in my hands and I am still part of this movement..” he said while addressing the media outside the Adiala Jail.
Referring to the crackdown on party workers and leaders in the wake of May 9 riots, the PTI leader said the party was facing “tough and testing times”. “But don’t lose hope, ‘sun of justice’ will rise again,” he added.
Qureshi said he will brief the media on PTI’s future course of action after holding a meeting with the party’s chief.
The Lahore High Court has ordered the immediate release of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Vice-Chairman and former foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi.
Shah Mehmood Qureshi Qureshi has been arrested repeatedly following the May 9 violent riots.
While hearing a petition against his arrest on Tuesday, The LHC’s Rawalpindi Bench judge Justice Chaudhry Abdul Aziz ordered that Qureshi should not be arrested under the Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance (MPO) anymore. “Whatever has happened in the past leave it, but it should not be repeated in future,” the LHC judge remarked.
The court also declared Rawalpindi deputy commissioner’s MPO orders illegal and directed the authorities to immediately release Qureshi without asking him to submit surety bonds.
Assistant Attorney General Abid Aziz Rajouri represented the government’s side, while lawyer Taimoor Malik and Qureshi’s daughter were also present in the court.
Earlier, the PTI leader’s counsels Faiza Asad and Taimur Malik had challenged the detention of Shah Mehmood Qureshi in the LHC Rawalpindi bench while the court had sought a reply from the Deputy Commissioner (DC) and Regional Police Officer (RPO) Rawalpindi in the case.
During the proceedings, the judge questioned the law officer regarding any speeches or protests led by Shah Mehmood Qureshi.
The judge remarked that “No political leader can control his words in a political gathering,” and instructed the law officer to present evidence if any against Qureshi.
In response, the official requested two days to submit the evidence, but the judge directed him to update the court within an hour after receiving directives from the government.
Subsequently, the court adjourned the hearing for an hour.
Meanwhile, the Punjab police submitted a report detailing the cases registered against Qureshi.
According to the report, a total of nine cases have been filed against Qureshi in various locations across Punjab. Among these, four cases were registered in Lahore while the remaining five were registered at different police stations in Multan.
The report was submitted in response to a request made by the PTI leader’s daughter.
