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