The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has ordered the release of PTI leaders Shehryar Afridi and Shandana Gulzar Khan, previously detained under the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO). While Afridi has been restricted from leaving Islamabad, directives have been given to the city’s police chief and deputy commissioner to guarantee his safety.
Background of the Arrests
Afridi faced initial arrest post the May 9 riots and a subsequent arrest on May 30 as per the MPO Ordinance 1960. After being briefly released following a bail granted by Lahore High Court’s Rawalpindi branch, he was taken into custody again by Rawalpindi Police earlier this month. On the other hand, Gulzar was supposedly “taken” by the Islamabad Police on August 9. Her mother contested her detention in the IHC, citing “unlawful arrest” and breaches of the Constitution of Pakistan.
In the recent hearing, the IHC rescinded the MPO detention orders and commanded their release. The court also restricted Afridi, preventing him from publicly discussing the ongoing case.
Justice Babar Sattar, during the session, probed into the rationale behind the arrests, especially claims of Afridi’s alleged plot to orchestrate an attack. The deputy commissioner defended the arrest based on intel reports, though the court questioned the validity of such claims, given Afridi’s incarceration. Similar concerns about Khan’s arrest were raised, and authorities were instructed to ensure her safety post-release.
