— Imran Khan denounces torture, rearrests of Afridi
ISLAMABAD: PTI leader Shehryar Afridi was arrested for the second time this week as the Rawalpindi police on Friday detained him under the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) shortly after an anti-terrorism court ordered his release.
According to the PTI, the former minister and his lawyers were also “tortured” by the Punjab police outside the court premises.
A video posted by the party on X showed Afridi in torn clothes, breathing heavily, as his lawyers offered him water. In another clip, the PTI leader could be seen surrounded by a large contingent of police outside the court.
Earlier today, the Rawalpindi ATC had directed authorities to release the former minister in a case registered at the New Town police station pertaining to May 9 violence.
However, the PTI leader was re-arrested immediately after his release on detention orders issued by Rawalpindi Deputy Commissioner Hassan Waqar Cheema under Section 3 (power to arrest and detain suspected persons) of the MPO ordinance.
Afridi was subsequently taken to the Adiala Jail. This is his second arrest in a week and 11th time in total. A day earlier, Afridi was picked up by the police after the Lahore High Court’s Rawalpindi bench granted him bail.
Talking to the media shortly before he was arrested, the PTI leader lamented that he was unaware of the case he was being re-arrested in. Afridi also stressed that he was a law-abiding and responsible citizen.
Meanwhile, his lawyer said that following his client’s release today, the police informed them about a “fresh MPO order”.
He added that Afridi “respected the law” and therefore, was surrendering to the “illegal” arrest. The counsel vowed to challenge the detention order in the high court.
Earlier in the day, along with ordering Afridi’s release, the ATC also issued show-cause notices to the investigation officer (IO), the senior superintendent of police (investigation) and the relevant superintendent of police, seeking a response by August 7.
In the order, ATC judge Hamid Hussain noted that it was incumbent upon the IO to gather incriminating material against Afridi but he had not done so. The IO had sought a 30-day physical remand of Afridi.
Observing that “malafide of the police is apparent on the record”, the judge ordered that the PTI leader “be released forthwith, if not required in any other case”.
Imran Khan denounces torture, rearrests of Afridi
Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan Friday strongly condemned the “countless unaccountable times” re-arrest of PTI senior leader Shehryar Afridi after having his arrests suspended by the Courts.
PTI Chairman made it clear that the police and government officials responsible for these acts of vandalism would be held accountable for these crimes and “orders from above” would not keep them out of prison.
Imran Khan made it clear that these tactics would not break the resolve of Pakistanis or deter their spirits for Haqeeqi Azadi, but it was fracturing the relationship between the State and its citizens.
Reacting to the re-arrest of Shehryar Afridi, PTI Chairman said: “I’ve lost count of the times Shehryar Afridi has been rearrested by the authorities, after having his arrests suspended by the Courts.”
He said that the people of Pakistan were watching the injustice their public representatives were being put through only because they refuse to renounce PTI or become approvers against me.
“Public will respond to this blatant fascism on the polling day, InshAllah,” he vowed.
