A Pakistani court on Tuesday ordered the immediate release of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) vice-chairperson Shah Mahmood Qureshi and not to arrest him under any further MPO (Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance). The Lahore High Court also dismissed as illegal the Rawalpindi deputy commissioner’s MPO orders and directed authorities to immediately release Qureshi without asking him to submit surety bonds, according to a report by Geo News.
Qureshi, the former foreign minister of Pakistan, was among the top PTI leaders arrested after violent protests erupted following party chairperson Imran Khan’s arrest on May 9. The former prime minister’s supporters vandalised military installations, including the Lahore Corps Commander’s house, Mianwali airbase, the ISI building in Faisalabad and also torched sensitive defence installations.
Qureshi was rearrested by Punjab Police from outside Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail and was taken to an unknown location, minutes after the Islamabad High Court (IHC) ordered his release on May 23.
Following his May 9 arrest, Qureshi pleaded with supporters to exercise their constitutional rights to protest but not “destroy public or private property” and remain peaceful.
Qureshi might takeover PTI or quit: Party defector
Last week, PTI defector Mahmood Moulvi claimed that Shah Mahmood Qureshi might quit PTI, according to reports. This comes as defected PTI leaders including former federal minister Fawad Chaudhry and former Sindh governor Imran Ismail, met with Qureshi in Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail.
Speaking to SAMAA TV, Moulvi suggested two scenarios- one in which Imran Khan hands over PTI to Qureshi and the second where the former foreign minister quits the party. The ex-lawmaker said that significant changes had taken place after May 9.
You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.
#Pakistan #Lahore #orders #release #PTIs #Shah #Mahmood #Qureshi