ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has issued an order barring authorities from arresting Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) MNA Sher Afzal Marwat without prior permission, directing the concerned parties to provide a complete list of cases against him.
The order was passed by Justice Saman Rifat Imtiaz in response to a petition filed by the PTI leader.
The petition submitted by Marwat’s counsel raised concerns about the possibility of a secret arrest in connection with a case. In light of this, the court directed that Marwat should not be taken into custody in any case without the court’s explicit approval.
Notices were also sent to the Secretary of Interior, the Inspector General of Islamabad Police, the Punjab Inspector General of Police, and the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).
The court has now instructed the parties involved to submit their arguments regarding the petition filed by Sher Afzal Marwat. The PTI leader’s legal team has pointed out that their client faces a potential threat of arbitrary arrest and emphasized the need for transparency in presenting the charges.
It is important to note that Sher Afzal Marwat, along with PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar and party leader Shoaib Shaheen, had previously been arrested following a PTI rally in Sangjani.
The arrests drew significant attention after Capital Police apprehended MNAs Zain Qureshi and Sheikh Waqas Akram inside the Parliament House. These developments sparked concern within the party and raised questions about the government’s tactics against PTI members.
In addition to these arrests, several other prominent figures associated with PTI were also detained. Among them were Owais Ahmed Chatha, Syed Shah Ahmed, Sunni Ittehad Council’s Sahibzada Hamid Raza, Yousaf Khan, Maulana Naseem Shah, and Ahmed Shah Khattak. These detentions have stirred debate over the actions of law enforcement authorities and the judicial system’s role in ensuring due process for all individuals involved.
Yesterday, the Islamabad High Court declared the eight-day remand of PTI lawmakers null and void. Chief Justice Aamer Farooq of the IHC delivered the ruling after considering the arguments presented by both parties. This ruling came after the National Assembly Speaker, Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, had previously approved the designation of Parliament Lodges as a sub-jail for the detained PTI MNAs.
The Islamabad High Court’s decision is seen as a significant move towards safeguarding the legal rights of Sher Afzal Marwat and other PTI leaders, as the political landscape in Pakistan continues to evolve amid mounting tensions between the government and opposition. The court’s order for detailed case records further emphasizes the judiciary’s role in maintaining transparency and accountability in such high-profile legal proceedings.
