47 PTI leaders, workers released on LHC orders

Decision comes on Fawad’s plea for release of those who were detained during 'Jail Bharo' movement

LAHORE:

A total of 47 Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leaders and workers, who were detained in connection with the ‘Jail Bharo Tehreek’, were released from Shahpur Jail on Friday after the Lahore High Court ordered their release.

A larger number of PTI workers reached Shahpur Jail to receive them.

Earlier during the day, the LHC suspended the detention of PTI leaders and workers, ordering their release.

Justice Tariq Saleem Sheikh was hearing a plea filed by senior PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry seeking the release of party leaders, including Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Asad Umar and others, as well as workers after Chairman Imran Khan called off the movement.

As the proceedings commenced, Justice Sheikh asked how this petition was maintainable as the PTI leaders had offered their arrests on their own whim and neither the government nor anyone else had initiated their detention.

“How can this detention be declared unconstitutional?” Justice Sheikh asked.

The petitioner’s counsel argued that these were all political prisoners. “There are rules which describe the rights of political prisoners,” he argued.

He pleaded the court that the PTI leaders and workers had offered their arrests voluntarily, at which the law officer opposed the stance.

Responding to the law officer, Justice Sheikh remarked that there should be no problem at all if a political leader offers their arrest voluntarily and is now demanding release.

The law officer said that there was no evidence available to establish whether the PTI leaders were under custody. However, the law officer sought 15 minutes for getting instructions as well as to get information about who had been detained under the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) law and against whom first information reports (FIRs) had been registered.

As the proceedings resumed after a short recess, the law officer could not satisfy the court over why the detained PTI leaders and workers should not be released.

Suspending the detention notification, the court ordered the release of the PTI leaders and workers. Justice Sheikh also sought replies from the provincial government and others by March 7.

According to the written order, all the people mentioned in the list attached to Fawad’s petition were to be released unless they were wanted in any criminal case.