PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi Ordered to be Released by Lahore High Court

The Lahore High Court (LHC) mandated the immediate release of PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi, previously detained following the May 9 protests. Qureshi, the ex-Foreign Minister, has experienced several arrests. The LHC’s Rawalpindi Bench instructed against further arrests under the Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance (MPO).

Justice Chaudhry Abdul Aziz invalidated Rawalpindi deputy commissioner’s MPO orders, directing Qureshi’s immediate release without surety bonds. The court was represented by Assistant Attorney General Abid Aziz Rajouri, with lawyer Taimoor Malik and Qureshi’s daughter advocating for Qureshi.

The court sought evidence of any inflammatory speech or protest led by Qureshi. The official was granted an hour to provide evidence after consultation with the government. In the interim, Punjab police provided a report on Qureshi’s cases. Nine cases have been lodged against him across Punjab – four in Lahore and five in Multan.

Prominent PTI leaders were detained following protests sparked by PTI Chairman Imran Khan’s arrest, which resulted in violent clashes and eight fatalities. Several leaders have since been released; some have left the party to protest the violence.