Court reprimands Chakwal DPO

Questions police action to detain PTM leader

RAWALPINDI:

Lahore High Court (LHC)’s Rawalpindi Bench Monday scorned Chakwal DPO while hearing a petition filed against the detention of Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) chief Manzoor Pashteen.

LHC judge Justice Sadaqat Ali Khan heard the case and reprimanded the DPO for the unsatisfactory reply.

The court asked why was the PTM leader arrested. On the court’s inquiry, the Chakwal DPO said a pamphlet was recovered from Manzoor Pashteen, which posed a threat to law and order, so he was detained.

Read: PTM’s Pashteen sent to judicial custody

The court expressed strong indignation and said, "Does peace and order deteriorate with pamphlets?" The court inquired as to why the petitioner was arrested and at whose order. The court remarked that the police cannot be given a blanket license to arrest anyone.

The Chakwal DPO informed the court that the police had withdrawn the detention order on January 27, 2024, and released the petitioner and the petitioner is not with the police. The court ordered the submission of a report regarding the reasons for the arrest and disposed of the petition.

The petition was filed by Manzoor Pashteen's brother Shahid Nadeem.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 30^th, 2024.