Lahore police have apprehended Dr Yasmin Rashid, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Central Punjab President and former Punjab health minister, despite the Lahore High Court’s decision to suspend the detention of 17 women, including her.
In a midnight development, Dr Yasmin was ‘arrested’ again, this time in cases registered at three different police stations of Lahore. However, due to her medical condition, the police decided to keep her at Services Hospital, where she had been taken from Kot Lakhpat jail after the court ordered her release.
The government crackdown on the PTI continues as Dr Rashid’s arrest is related to charges of riots that occurred during nationwide protests after the arrest of PTI chief Imran Khan on May 9.
On petitions challenging the detention of the PTI leaders and workers, Justice Safdar Saleem Shahid of the LHC had ordered release of the 18 women detained under the MPO, if not required in any criminal case.
Earlier, Advocate Sikandar Zulqarnain argued on behalf of the petitioners that the detained persons included responsible members of the bar and household women. He said they were neither active members of any political party nor involved in any anti-state activities.
Rashid was taken into custody at Services Hospital, as she was wanted by the police in connection with three cases, as per police sources.
The cases against her have been registered at Sarwar Road, Gulberg, and Shadman police stations, and they include sections related to terrorism and other serious charges.
It is worth mentioning that Rashid was admitted to the hospital due to her deteriorating health conditions. Personnel from the Model Town division arrived to make her arrest. Given her unwell state, the police have decided to keep Dr Rashid under their custody at the hospital.
