Lahore (Web Desk): The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Saturday suspended detention notifications and ordered the release of eighteen Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) women workers, including former health minister Dr Yasmin Rashid.
According to details, Justice Safdar Saleem Shahid of the LHC heard the petition.
During the proceedings, the petitioner’s counsel argued that Dr Yasmin was a senior citizen and a cancer patient. They argued that forged and faux first information reports were being registered against PTI leadership and workers.
The judge questioned what evidence the government had to detain her. The law officer stated that Dr Yasmin was the central Punjab president of the party and participated in every political activity. He added that had she avoided participating in the political activities, the detention order would not have been issued against her.
The officer stated that there were video clips that established the involvement of Dr Yasmin in the attack on the Lahore Corps Commander’s residence.
Justice Shahid remarked that the incident occurred on May 9 but the detention notification was issued on May 12, he suggested that an FIR should have been registered instead of detaining people.
The law officer argued the unpleasant incidents could have not been stopped even if FIRs were registered, adding that Dr Yasmin was leading a crowd of thousands of participants.
Justice Shahid, after hearing detailed arguments, first reserved the decision and then suspended the detention notification with instruction to release the former minister with immediate effect.
In a separate hearing, the LHC also suspended the detention of 17 other female activists of the PTI.
Dr Yasmeen Rashid was arrested on under section three of the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO), as the police crackdown on PTI leaders showed no signs of slowing down and raids were carried out in Islamabad and Lahore, following increasingly violent protests by party supporters.
PTI leader Andaleeb Abbas said yesterday that the former minister had been hiding to avoid arrest.
"Police had taken her close family members into custody two days ago but her husband was released after his health deteriorated. Her brother-in-law is still in police custody.
A number of cases were filed against Rashid, including that of an attack on the Lahore Corps Commander's residence.
On May 9, protests erupted in major cities across the country after Imran Khan's arrest from the premises of the Islamabad High Court (IHC).
The protests soon turned violent, with military installations and government offices, such as those of Jinnah House in Lahore, Radio Pakistan and Associated Press of Pakistan, being set on fire in Peshawar.
On May 11, the Supreme Court (SC) declared the PTI chief’s arrest “invalid and unlawful” and on May 12, the IHC granted him bail, barring police from arresting him in any case till May 15.
