Social activist challenges detention in court

Haripur deputy commissioner issues release orders of more detainees

HARIPUR:

A lawyer has challenged the detention of social activist Erum Rasheed in the Peshawar High Court (PHC) Abbottabad bench.

Social activist Erum Rasheed, who was arrested under the maintenance of public order (MPO) for leading a protest rally against WAPDA officials, has refused to submit an apology to the Harpur district administration before her release from Mardan jail.

Erum and several others are still behind bars for staging a protest against the alleged illegal recruitments in the Tarbela dam extension projects.

The activist’s lawyer, Ajmal Khan, said in the petition that the arrests had been made for raising a voice for the rights of the local people.

Read Basic law is bail, not jail: SC

He said that the constitution allows for a peaceful protest, but the Haripur administration has illegally kept Erum and other protesters in the prison for the last 20 days.

A three-member bench has issued a notice to the Haripur deputy commissioner after fixing the case for hearing.

Sources said a delegation led by ex-Senator Pir Sabir Shah and elders of the Ghazi area also met with the Harpur deputy commissioner and requested him to issue the release order of the detainees from jail.

The deputy commissioner issued the release order on the condition that the detainees submit a written apology. However, Erum has refused to tender an apology.

The sources said that the jail administration has received the orders for releasing the detainees including Erum but she has refused to tender an apology.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 30^th, 2021.