PTI leader, Shehryar Afridi, was arrested for the second time in one week. His arrest came on the heels of the Rawalpindi anti-terrorism court directing his release. To the surprise of many, Afridi was taken back into custody under the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) by the Rawalpindi police. This occurred just moments after the court’s orders. According to PTI reports, Afridi and his legal team faced physical aggression by the Punjab police outside the court. The ordeal left Afridi visibly distressed, as seen in online video clips.
Claims of Unlawful Detention and Torture
Afridi was promptly returned to Adiala Jail following the unexpected turn of events. In a conversation with the media before his re-arrest, Afridi expressed his confusion over the situation, stating his ignorance about the case, which resulted in his re-arrest. Afridi emphasized that he has always been a law-abiding citizen. His lawyer said the police had informed them about a “fresh MPO order” after Afridi’s release. Despite the confusing situation, Afridi chose to respect the law and surrender to what his lawyer termed an “illegal” arrest. He promised to contest this detention order in the high court.
Earlier in the day, the ATC ordered Afridi’s release and issued show-cause notices to the investigation officer (IO), the senior superintendent of police (investigation), and the relevant superintendent of police, with responses due by August 7th. The ATC judge observed that the police’s malafide intentions were evident in handling Afridi’s case.
