Lahore (Web Desk): The Lahore High Court (LHC) Thursday ordered the immediate release of all Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) workers who were arrested following the violent protests of May 9 from eleven districts of Punjab including the provincial capital.
According to details, Justice Safdar Saleem Shahid of the LHC issued a nine-page verdict declaring the detention of PTI Punjab leader Dr Dr Yasmin Rashid and others.
In its verdict, the court quashed the detention orders of PTI workers in Lahore, Wazirabad, Jhang, Sheikhupura, Khafazabad, Mandi Bahauddin, Gujrat, Nankana Sahib, Gujranwala, Sialkot, and Narowal.
The verdict read that the shocking incident on May 9 portrayed a distorted image of a peaceful and democratic situation.
The order said that the incumbent government 'blindly' issued innumerable detention orders.
"There was plenty of time to make arrests in criminal cases if it [the government] had evidence," the court further observed.
The verdict stated that those who have been arrested should be made aware of the charges so they can defend themselves, emphasising that it was wrong to pick up citizens and put them in jails without a trial.
The court in its judgement said that every notification submitted by the deputy commissioner stated that citizens were arrested on the report of the district police officer (DPO). It further stated that the deputy commissioner’s decision itself violated Section 3 of the Public Maintenance Ordinance, 1960.
The violent protests erupted across the country on May 9 after the arrest of former premier Imran Khan from the premises of Islamabad High Court (IHC) by Rangers –, on the orders of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in Al-Qadir Trust corruption case.
The protesters, allegedly belonging to the PTI, vandalised public and state properties and even attacked the General Headquarters in Rawalpindi and the Lahore corps commander’s residence (Jinnah House).
The rioting was followed by a crackdown against the PTI leaders and workers.