ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has issued show-cause notices to the police chief of Islamabad, the chief commissioner, the deputy commissioner, and other officials in response to pleas filed by PTI leaders Shehryar Afridi and Shandana Gulzar Khan. The pleas were lodged against their ongoing detentions under the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO).
Shehryar Afridi was initially arrested on May 16 from his Islamabad residence under Section 3 of the MPO Ordinance, 1960. He was subsequently rearrested on May 30 after his release from prison. Despite being granted bail by the Lahore High Court’s Rawalpindi bench on August 3, Afridi was once again detained by the Rawalpindi police. This happened after his release from Adiala jail. A petition was filed in the IHC by his lawyer. The petition urged for his release and the setting aside of the MPO order.
In a separate case, Shandana Gulzar Khan was reportedly “abducted” by Islamabad police on August 9. Her mother filed a petition in the IHC citing illegal arrest and violations of the Constitution’s Articles. The petition demanded that the police produce her daughter in court.
During a court hearing, IHC Justice Babar Sattar questioned the instances where Shehryar Afridi allegedly “incited people.” The judge emphasized the necessity for the authorities to provide valid reasons for detaining a citizen.
Justice Sattar noted that the district magistrate’s detention order for Shehryar Afridi was based on “extraneous considerations.” The order expressed concerns that the detention order lacked sufficient details to warrant action under Section 3 of the MPO.
Court Demands Official Clarification And Summons In Detention Case
It further highlighted that the district magistrate’s order referred to Afridi’s alleged involvement in planning an attack on District Courts Islamabad. The court emphasized that if there was credible information about such a plot, the person involved should have been charged. This is instead of being detained under a law designed to prevent future breaches of public order.
The court ordered the district magistrate to appear before the IHC to clarify the validity of the detention order. It also issued show-cause notices to several officials for potential criminal contempt of court and instructed them to appear before the court. Additionally, the Islamabad chief commissioner and inspector general of police were summoned to the court along with the detained PTI leader for the next hearing.
Separately, the court also ordered Shandana Gulzar Khan to be produced in court. It instructed relevant officials to bring records of MPO orders passed in the last three months. The district magistrate, IGP, and SSP were also directed to appear in court.
