Islamabad (Web Desk): The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday suspended detention of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) president and former Punjab Chief minister Parvez Elahi's detention under 3-MPO (Maintenance of Public Order) and ordered his release.
During the hearing, Elahi's lawyer contended that his client had been in jail for the past three months and questioned how he could have caused harm to public order. The lawyer also read out the PTI leader’s detention order out loud in court.
He claimed that his client has even refrained from making any public statements for the past four months, asserting that "there is no case filed against the PTI president in Islamabad".
Former Punjab CM's legal team also informed the court that he had been discharged from the anti-corruption case by the Lahore High Court (LHC).
"The court had declared the case filed by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) against him illegal," Elahi's lawyer added.
However, he informed the IHC that after release from the LHC, his client was rearrested by the Islamabad police.
Elahi's lawyer further reiterated that the PTI president has never organised any protests, rallies or demonstrations in the federal capital.
After hearing arguments from both parties, the IHC announced the reserved verdict suspending Elahi's detention under the MPO and ordered his release.
The PTI leader was arrested again hours after the LHC on September 1 ordered his immediate release.
The court had ordered the additional registrar of the LHC, DG operations, and other security high-ups to ensure Elahi reaches his residence.
However, Islamabad police team assisted by Lahore police, intercepted en route and arrest the former Punjab CM near his home.
According to Islamabad police, the PTI president had been arrested under 3-MPO (Maintenance of Public Order) and was later shifted to Attock Jail.
After his re-arrest on Friday, the former Punjab CM had approached the Islamabad High Court (IHC) for release, while his wife, Qaisara Elahi, had filed two petitions in the LHC, seeking directions for relevant authorities to present her husband in court and contempt proceedings against Punjab police officials on grounds of “wilful disobedience”.
On Tuesday, Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri took up Elahi’s plea. The court suspended the PTI leader’s detention order and also ordered his release. The court also issued a notice to the duty magistrate who ordered Elahi’s detention.