The Islamabad High Court has sentenced the capital’s deputy commissioner (DC) to six-month imprisonment in a contempt of court case.
The deputy commissioner, who already challenged the verdict, stands accused of defying court orders by authorizing the arrest of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leader Shaheryar Afridi under the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO).
Justice Babar Sattar delivered the verdict, which had been pending since February 21. The court has convicted other officials as well, but their sentences have been suspended for a month, and no immediate incarceration is mandated.
Islamabad’s SSP operations has been sentenced to four months in prison, while SHO Margalla has received a two-month jail term.
The DC’s directive for Afridi’s arrest followed the turbulent protests of May 9 under section (3) of the Maintenance of Public Order.
Despite the Islamabad High Court’s order to release Shehryar Afridi, detained under the MPO, the DC promptly reissued the arrest order, citing a ‘source report.’
The court deemed this subsequent arrest as a disregard for its authority.
Justice Sattar also noted that the arrest orders under the MPO were orchestrated to prolong detention despite court-ordered releases.
