ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi made alarming claims on Thursday about his alleged mistreatment during imprisonment, asserting he faced mental and physical torture and endured harsh cold conditions.
Presenting himself before Duty Magistrate Syed Jahangir Ali in the GHQ attack case, Qureshi revealed the police’s attempt to elicit his statement without his legal counsel present.
He strongly protested this approach, emphasizing the unjust treatment he had endured for months in detention.
Expressing his innocence, Qureshi asserted that on the day of the alleged incident in Rawalpindi, May 9, he was actually in Karachi with his wife at the Aga Khan Hospital. He urged authorities to verify his whereabouts through PEMRA records, reinforcing his absence from Rawalpindi at the time.
During the court proceedings, Qureshi requested the magistrate to remove his handcuffs, prompting the judge to order the police to release him from restraints.
Recounting his previous legal encounters, Qureshi highlighted his prior acquittal by three Supreme Court judges, contrasting it with his subsequent arrest under Maintenance of Public Order 3 (MPO 3).
He detailed the confusion surrounding his arrest, mentioning abrupt changes in dates and orders, emphasizing the tumultuous sequence of events leading to his detention.
Furthermore, the PTI leader detailed his alleged mistreatment while in custody, citing physical assault by an SHO and subsequent pleas for medical attention that were inadequately addressed.
Additionally, restrictions were imposed on media coverage during his appearance in court, prompting criticism from both his legal counsel and his daughter, Meher Bano Qureshi, who expressed disappointment over media restrictions.
Despite securing bail in one case, Qureshi’s hopes for release were shattered when he was detained under MPO 3, citing concerns about potential public safety issues. Following a temporary withdrawal of the detention order by the deputy commissioner, Qureshi was rearrested on charges related to the GHQ attack on May 9.
Expressing his innocence and decrying what he perceived as targeted persecution, Qureshi lamented the violation of court orders and asserted his representation of the nation while being subjected to what he deemed as baseless vendettas.
I am an experienced writer, analyst, and author. My exposure in English journalism spans more than 28 years. In the past, I have been working with daily The Muslim (Lahore Bureau), daily Business Recorder (Lahore/Islamabad Bureaus), Daily Times, Islamabad, daily The Nation (Lahore and Karachi). With daily The Nation, I have served as Resident Editor, Karachi. Since 2009, I have been working as a Freelance Writer/Editor for American organizations.
