RAWALPINDI: Shah Mehmood Qureshi, vice chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI), was detained in Adiala Jail on Tuesday for 15 days under Section 3 of the Maint­en­ance of Public Order (MPO).

The directives for the detention were issued by the Rawalpindi deputy commissioner, stating that Mr Qureshi’s release might pose a threat to peace and security.

The detention order me­­ntioned that the city pol­i­­ce officer (CPO) Rawal­pi­ndi, through a letter dated December 26, informed that, according to the rep­ort of SHO Sad­dar Beroni Rawalpin­­di, the accused Mr Qureshi, a resident of Multan and a member of a political party, was invo­l­ved in instigating, plann­ing to organise an unlawful assembly, committing violence, delivering un­­l­a­wful speeches to cause da­­m­­age to human life, and public and private property.

It further stated that the CPO recommended that, in order to prevent him from engaging in such unlawful activities and acting in a manner prejudicial to public safety or the maintenance of public order, he should be deta­i­ned under Section 3 of the MPO for a period of 45 days in the public interest.

While granting Mr Qu­­reshi the right to appeal, Deputy Commis­sioner Has­­­­­san Waqar Cheema ord­­er­­ed Mr Qureshi’s det­ention in Adiala Jail for 15 days.

This development comes days after the Supreme Court granted bail to former prime minister Imran Khan and his close aide Mr Qureshi in the cipher case. However, both leaders were not released immediately due to their involvement in other cases registered against them.

Published in Dawn, December 27th, 2023