Rawalpindi: Just as he was being released from Adiala Jail here on Wednesday, Pakistan’s former Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi was re-arrested.
Qureshi, who along with former Prime Minister Imran Khan, was granted bail by the Supreme Court in a cipher case on December 22, had been arrested in the May 9 Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) protest case.
Qureshi and Imran’s immediate release was not possible due to their involvement in other cases.
On Wednesday, the PTI vice-chairman was stating his rights when he was manhandled by police officers.
The party released several videos in which Qureshi is seen to be pushed and dragged to the van as he was re-arrested before walking free.
“I was released on bail by the Supreme Court, this is injustice, I am being punished for serving the nation,” Qureshi said while standing on an armoured car.
Watch the video shared on X by PTI:
Former Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi being mistreated by police officers as he was stating his rights. This is absolutely shameful, disgusting conduct by those who get paid by us! pic.twitter.com/ZVNtnqN0jS
— PTI (@PTIofficial) December 27, 2023
“Police have re-arrested Vice Chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi on bail release from Adyala Jail following the Supreme Court’s verdict last week. Earlier, the Deputy Commissioner of Rawalpindi had withdrawn the observation order issued under MPO. This treatment of a person with unparalleled service to Pakistan who are internationally respected senior politicians is a sign of the arrogance of authority. The law has been made a joke and the fundamental constitutional rights of citizens have been openly violated. Pakistani people will never forget this oppression and injustice,” PTI wrote on Instagram.
A big contingent of police was at the jail when the 67-year-old Qureshi was released. He has been shifted him to an unknown location, The Express Tribute reported.
A day earlier, Rawalpindi Deputy Commissioner (DC) Hassan Waqar Cheema issued an order for his 15-day detention under Section 3 of Maintenance of Public Order (MPO). It’s a law which permits the government to arrest an individual if there is a threat of public disorder.
