RAWALPINDI: The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Tuesday ordered the immediate release of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Vice Chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi, who was arrested in the light of May 9 violent protests.
Former foreign minister Qureshi has been arrested multiple times since his first arrest.
While hearing a petition against his arrest, LHC’s Rawalpindi Bench ordered that Qureshi should not be arrested under the Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance (MPO) anymore.
Justice Chaudhry Abdul Aziz presided over the hearing.
The court also declared Rawalpindi deputy commissioner’s MPO orders illegal and directed authorities to immediately release the PTI vice chairman 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 there for the PTI leader.
During the hearing, the court inquired from the law officer if Qureshi had given any speech or led any protest.
“No political leader can control his words in a political gathering,” the court remarked while directing the law officer to present evidence against the former foreign minister if any.
At this, the official sought two days for the submission of evidence.
However, the court directed him to update the court within an hour after taking directives from the government.
The court then adjourned the hearing for an hour.
