The Lahore High Court (LHC) has issued an order for the release of Senior Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Secretary General Asad Umar, and other leaders of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) who voluntarily surrendered themselves during the party’s “Jail Bharo Tehreek” (court arrest movement). The decision was made after PTI Senior Vice President Fawad Chaudhry filed a petition seeking the release of the detained party leaders.
On February 22, the Jail Bharo Tehreek movement was formed in response to the incumbent government’s “attack on constitutionally guaranteed fundamental rights” and the “economic meltdown.” Senior party figures like Qureshi and Umar voluntarily turned themselves in to the Lahore police on the first day of the campaign, and others did the same later.
The Supreme Court’s (SC) ruling in the election suo motu notice led to PTI Chairman Imran Khan’s announcement on Wednesday that the “Jail Bharo Tehreek” would be suspended.
In a split decision, the top court mandated that the governor of KP announce the provincial election date while the president was instructed to consult with the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and set a date for elections in Punjab. Khan said the party would keep up its election campaigns in Punjab and KP.
As part of the court proceedings, the LHC requested that the Punjab government and other parties submit their responses by March 7. The court adjourned the hearing till Tuesday.
The PTI’s petition for bail for the party leaders who voluntarily turned themselves in as part of the “Jail Bharo Tehreek” was taken into consideration by the LHC during a hearing on February 24.
The attorney responded that the arrest was symbolic and that they were present to defend the leaders’ rights when Justice Shehram Sarwar Chaudhary questioned why the party members had been detained.
The lawyer’s response caused the entire courtroom to break out in laughter, and the judge remarked that the party had requested the arrests, so what emergency existed now that they had been made?
As a result of a petition submitted by Fawad Chaudhry, the LHC has ordered the release of PTI leaders who voluntarily turned themselves in during the “Jail Bharo Tehreek” movement.
Imran Khan, the leader of the PTI, has declared the movement to be on hold while he still intends to run for office in Punjab and KP. The Punjab government and other parties have been asked to submit their responses by March 7 after the court postponed the hearing until Tuesday.
