ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court on Wednesday ordered the “immediate” release of Asad Umar, a top aide of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, declaring his detention using a law related to the maintenance of public order null and void.
Authorities began a crackdown on Khan associates and supporters after his followers attacked public property and military installations following his arrest on corruption charges earlier this month. Thousands of supporters have since been arrested, including top Khan aides, under Section 3 of the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO), a law against inciting violence. The government has said those accused of being involved in attacks on its installations will be tried by military courts — a platform typically reserved for enemies of the state.
Asad Umar, the secretary general of Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, was detained by the Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) on May 10, a day after Khan’s arrest, from the premises of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) and has since been kept at Adiala Jail. Khan himself got bail on May 12.
“The Islamabad High Court has ordered the immediate release of Asad Umar and has declared his arrest under Section 3 of the MPO (Maintenance of Public Order) invalid,” Geo News reported after the IHC heard a plea against his detention on Wednesday.
“The court has also asked Umar to submit a sworn statement on not being a part of violent protests.”
On Tuesday, PTI vice president Shah Mahmood Qureshi, also arrested following Khan’s arrest, was released, but was immediately rearrested from outside court. Responding to reporters’ questions on whether he was under pressure to leave the PTI after several of his party members jumped ship, he responded:
“I was, am, and will remain part of the party.”
Many PTI leaders have announced leaving the party in the last week, including one of its most senior party members, Shireen Mazari, who announced on Tuesday that she was quitting the PTI and “active politics” to take care of her family.
Mazari made the announcement after being arrested four times since she was first taken in custody on May 11.
Reacting to the crackdown on his party, Khan wrote on Twitter:
“Fundamental rights openly trampled upon, media totally muzzled, social media activists threatened.”
Amid the unfolding political chaos, the US State Department said Washington did not have a position on a particular political candidate from Pakistan.
“We call for the respect and equal application of democratic principles, freedom of expression – and rule of law around the world, and of course, in Pakistan, we urge that these principles be respected for all people,” a spokesperson said at a briefing to reporters.
Leading rights groups Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch as well as the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan have also expressed their concern over the government’s plans to use the military courts to try civilians.
