Relieved: Court frees PTI, PAT workers

IHC chief justice orders government to file a reply over arrests by September 17

ISLAMABAD/FAISALABAD:

A day after anti-government protesters were hauled by law enforcers, Islamabad High Court on Sunday ordered the release of all arrested supporters of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, including the party’s provincial president Azam Swati.

In an unusual turn of events, IHC Chief Justice Mohammad Anwar Khan Kasi also set aside the orders of Islamabad’s city district court and directed authorities to release the detained workers. The judge also asked the government to file a reply over the arrests by September 17.

On Saturday, police cracked down on workers of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Pakistani Awami Tehreek (PAT) sending hundreds of activists to jail on a 14-day judicial remand for allegedly attacking the policemen, damaging state property, and violating Section 144.

Following the court’s order, PTI’s popular sound engineer, Muhammad Asif, commonly known as DJ Butt was released on bail along with 600 party activists who were held at Adiala Jail.

Meanwhile, PTI leaders Swati and Shibli Faraz, were released on bail by Islamabad district magistrate after their applications were accepted.

Both PTI leaders were arrested for provoking party workers to forcibly pave way for the release of workers detained by police authorities, interfering in official duties and violating Section 144.

Interestingly, Adnan Hussain, an employee of Express News, who was picked up from his room at a hotel in G-7 Markaz, revealed that a majority of people nabbed by police on Saturday were not associated with PTI and PAT.

“Police arrested those travelling on four-wheelers – cars or vans, etc. Each barrack was stuffed with dozens of detainees due to lack of space at Adiala jail,” he said while talking to The Express Tribune.

Similarly, a source in Islamabad police, requesting not to be named, said that every police station in the capital was directed to arrest at least 30 PTI workers.

“In an attempt to meet the target, police picked up people from guesthouses and hotels who came from other cities. They were staying over for a night,” he said.

However, when contacted, PTI lawyer Niazullah Niazi confirmed that party workers were sent to jail by a district magistrate.

More arrests

As fledgling efforts to broker a deal to end the month-long political confrontation in the country collapsed, police in Faisalabad, Toba Tek Singh (TTS), Chiniot and Jhang districts launched a massive crackdown, rounding up more than 300 PAT and PTI activists.

The workers were imprisoned under Section 3 of Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) for one month in Central Jail Faisalabad, District Jail Faisalabad, District Jail TTS and District Jail Jhang.

According to the order, the detainees were involved in disruption of peace and their activities were detrimental to the law and order situation in the city.

The detention order added that “they were acting in manner prejudicial to public safety and maintenance of public order and it is necessary to take them into custody for 30 days as envisaged in section 7 of the MPO”.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 15^th, 2014.