LHC orders release of Yasmin, others

Also seeks report on a plea seeking recovery of former provincial minister Ali Afzal Sahi

LAHORE:

Suspending a detention notification, the Lahore High Court (LHC) has ordered release of eighteen women –supporters, workers and politicians of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), including former provincial minister Dr Yasmin Rashid
These women were detained on charges of vandalism, setting ablaze public properties and disturbing law and order after the arrest of PTI Chairman Imran Khan on May 9 from Islamabad High Court premises.

LHC’s Justice Safdar Saleem Shahid issued an order for release of these women while hearing a slew of petitions challenging their detention under Punjab Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance, 1960.

The judge also sought a report from the concerned authorities by May 15 on the disappearance of former PTI provincial minister Ali Afzal Sahi after police officials told the court that Sahi was not in their custody.

During proceedings, her counsel said Dr Yasmin Rashid is a senior citizen and a cancer patient. He said while false cases were registered against many PTI workers and leaders, a number of them were also detained under the Punjab Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance. 1960.

“The government imposed Section 144 to restrain political workers from exercising their democratic right,” he said. Justice Shahid asked the state law officer if Section 144 could be imposed after the announcement of the election date.

When asked for reasons for her detention, the law officer said Dr Rashid is the PTI’s central Punjab president and participates in every activity of the party. “If she had avoided participating in the political activities, the authorities would not have issued her detention order.”

He said there was evidence of Dr Rashid involvement in an attack on the residence of Lahore Corps Commander. Justice Shahid remarked that this incident occurred on May 9 but the detention notification was issued on May 12.

“You people should have registered an FIR rather than detaining the people,” he said.

The law officer argued the unpleasant incidents could not be stopped even if an FIR was registered. “Dr Yasmin Rashid was leading a crowd of thousands of people,” he said.

After hearing detailed arguments, the judge first reserved the decision. He later suspended the detention notification with direction to release Dr Rashid with immediate effect.

During the proceedings, counsels for the petitioners argued that the clients are respectable women—some of them are members of bar association while the rest are housewives.

They contended that the women are neither active members of any political party nor are involved in any anti-state activities;  they even have no connection with any political party nor their activities are prejudicial to the police safety and maintenance of public order.

Justice Shahid also sought a report by May 15 on a plea seeking recovery of the former provincial minister Ali Afzal Sahi. During the proceedings, the additional inspector general police told the court that neither the police arrested Sahi nor he was in their custody right now.

The petitioner’s counsel told the court that Ali Afzal Sahi was arrested from the district bar office but now authorities are hiding his arrest. Police officials told the court that they had formed a team to investigate the matter.