IHC orders release of Shehryar Afridi, Shandana Gulzar

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court on Wednesday ordered the release of PTI leaders Shehryar Afridi and Shandana Gulzar.

A two-member bench headed by Justice Babar Sattar suspended the district magistrate’s order to detain Shehryar Afridi under the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO).

The judge allowed Afridi to go to his residence in Islamabad but barred him from leaving the federal capital. The court also stopped him from making any statement on media or social media until the case against him is over.

I expect you to not make a statement until this case is over, There should be no statement from you on media or social media, Justice Babar Sattar said.

The court said the Inspector General and Chief Commissioner will be held responsible if anything happens to them or the PTI leaders leave Islamabad.

The court issued a notice to IG Islamabad to provide the name of the police officers who detained Afridi under MPO despite the court’s orders.

The court decided to indict SSP operations next week for contempt of court. It instructed to provide the names of the SHO and DPO who detained Afridi and issued a show cause notice.

The lawyer for SSP Operations told the the reasons for quashing the first MPO order were different.  The court said that the arrestee was arrested before the detention orders were issued.

The lawyer replied that action on threat alerts is done on the basis of suspicion.  “You have created a mockery. The court cancels the MPO and then a new order is issued,” Justice Babar Sattar said

The court said the deputy commissioner’s response to the show-cause notice issued in the Shehryar Afridi case is unsatisfactory. The court decided to issue a contempt of court action against DC Islamabad and will indict him next week. 

As the hearing commenced, the court inquired on whose orders was Shehryar Afridi arrested. The court summoned the concerned SHO to the rostrum

What information did you have about Shehryar Afridi’s planning? The court asked. The SHO replied that he was not posted at that time. The DPO told the court that he was on leave.

The court asked how Shehryar Afridi was planning to attack the court in jail. Justice Babar Sattar asked if Shehryar Afridi had access to media or mobile phone.

The deputy commissioner replied that intelligence reports stated that Shehryar Afridi instigated against the courts and spread chaos. He said there are also reports of involvement in planning an attack on the District Courts and the judiciary.

Justice Babar Sattar asked how Afridi spread provocation despite being in jail. The Deputy Commissioner read out the reports of the Special Branch and the Intelligence Bureau. The judge reminded him that contempt of court is punishable by six months