High Court orders authorities to release Qureshi

ISLAMABAD:THE Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday declared Pakistan Tehreek-e-insaf (PTI) Vice Chairman and former foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi’s arrest illegal and issued orders for his release.

Justice Miangul Hasan Aurangzeb heard the PTI leader’s plea against his arrest under Section 3 of the Maintenance of Public Order Act (MPO).

The court declared the arrest null and void and instructed the concerned authorities to ensure his release after he signs an undertaking.

“Have a look at the undertaking submitted by [PTI leader] Ali Muhammad Khan,” the judge told Qureshi’s counsel, “you may submit one like that as well.”

The lawyer responded that he will consult the ex-minister and submit the document accordingly.

Justice Aurangzeb had issued orders for the release of PTI leaders Maleeka Bokhari and Ali Muhammad Khan ater it declared their arrest under MPO as illegal as well.

Despite relief from the courts, however, there appears to be no respite in the crackdown on PTI leaders.

After a local court ordered the release of the party’s female leaders Shireen Mazari and Senator Falak Naz arrested in a case registered at the federal capital’s Tarnol police station, the former was rounded up again for a third time on Wednesday.

Separately, a PTI spokesperson claimed that party leader Maleeka Bokhari had been arrested again ater her release from Adiala Jail and taken to an undisclosed location.

Meanwhile, the Special Court in Islamabad issued a bailable arrest warrant for PTI leader Azam Swati in a controversial tweet case.

According to details, the case regarding the controversial tweet by Swati was heard by the Special Judge Central Islamabad, in the presence of Azam Swati’s lawyer Sohail Khan and Prosecutor Rizwan Abbasi.

Lawyer Sohail Khan complained that the PTI leaders are geting arrested outside the court, whereas Swati was scheduled to appear but he is currently present at Zaman Park.

“Has Azam Swati has obtained protective bail from the court?” Prosecutor Rizwan Abbasi asked. He said that Swati was called several times by the court to indict him, but he failed to appear, despite taking an oath.

Abbasi asked the lawyer to provide evidence of Swati’s presence in Zaman Park. He further requested the court to issue the non-bailable arrest warrants for Swati.

The court rejected the request for exemption from Swati’s atendance and issued a bailable warrant for his arrest.