PTI leader Shehryar Afridi was arrested for the second time this week as the Rawalpindi police on Friday detained him under the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) shortly after an anti-terrorism court ordered his release.
According to the PTI, the former minister and his lawyers were also “tortured” by the Punjab police outside the court premises.
A video posted by the party on X showed Afridi in torn clothes, breathing heavily, as his lawyers offered him water. In another clip, the PTI leader could be seen surrounded by a large contingent of police outside the court.
Earlier today, the Rawalpindi ATC had directed authorities to release the former minister in a case registered at the New Town police station pertaining to May 9 violence.
However, the PTI leader was re-arrested immediately after his release on detention orders issued by Rawalpindi Deputy Commissioner Hassan Waqar Cheema under Section 3 (power to arrest and detain suspected persons) of the MPO ordinance.
Afridi was subsequently taken to the Adiala Jail. This is his second arrest in a week and 11th time in total. A day earlier, Afridi was picked up by the police after the Lahore High Court’s Rawalpindi bench granted him bail.
Talking to the media shortly before he was arrested, the PTI leader lamented that he was unaware of the case he was being re-arrested in. Afridi also stressed that he was a law-abiding and responsible citizen.
Meanwhile, his lawyer said that following his client’s release today, the police informed them about a “fresh MPO order”.
He added that Afridi “respected the law” and therefore, was surrendering to the “illegal” arrest. The counsel vowed to challenge the detention order in the high court.
