Shah Mehmood Qureshi put under detention on the orders of DC Rawalpindi under MPO 3 for 15 days

RAWALPINDI, Dec 26 (SABAH): Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Vice-Chairman and former foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi was put under detention on the orders of Deputy Commissioner Rawalpindi

Hassan Waqar Cheema under MPO 3 for 15 days.

The deputy commissioner issued detention orders on the recommendation of Rawalpindi CPO.

The CPO claimed that the police force have to investigate the PTI leader as he was nominated in the case of May 9 vandalism.

Section 3 of MPO empowers the government to arrest and detain suspected persons. It states: “The government, if satisfied that with a view to preventing any person from acting in any manner prejudicial to public safety or the maintenance of public order, it is necessary to do, may, by an order in writing, direct the arrest and detention in such custody […] and [the] government, if satisfied that for the aforesaid reasons, it is necessary so to do, may extend from time to time the period of such detention, for a period not exceeding six months at a time.”

The order said the Rawalpindi city police officer (CPO) had intimated via letter that Qureshi was a member of a political party which was involved in anti-state activities and caused damage to public and private property.

It added that the letter said it was “probable that after his release from jail, he will again continue his above activities and which may lead to law and order situation, harmful to life and property of general public.”

The letter said the Rawalpindi CPO recommended that Qureshi be detained for 45 days to prevent him from his “unlawful activities and acting in a manner prejudicial to the public safety or the maintenance of public order”.

The letter added the Rawalpindi District Intelligence Committee had also endorsed the police department’s stance and agreed to Qureshi’s detention.

Thus, DC Cheema said he was satisfied that Qureshi’s “detention is necessary and expedient in public interest” to prevent him from acting in any manner prejudicial to the public safety or the maintenance of public order.

The order added that Qureshi had the right to appeal to the Punjab government against the order.

It may be recalled that Qureshi was to be released from Adiala Jail as he was granted bail along with the PTI founder in cipher case by the three-member bench of the Supreme Court headed by Acting Chief Justice Sardar Tariq Masood and comprising Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah and Justice Athar Minallah on last Friday.

The apex court had asked him to submit surety bonds worth Rs1 million.

His counsel Barrister Malik Taimur reached Adiala Jail to submit his surety bonds to ensure his release on the same day.

The PTI leader was indicted in the cipher case on Dec 13 by the special court established under the Official Secrets Act 2023.