Shehryar Afridi re-arrested second time in 24 hours

RAWALPINDI: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leader Shehryar Afridi was arrested for the second time during the 24 hours as Rawalpindi police detained him under the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) shortly after an anti-terrorism court issued his release orders.

According to the PTI, Afridi and his lawyers were also allegedly “tortured” by the Punjab police outside the court premises.

شہریار افریدی پر جھوٹے مقدمات میں جھوٹی نامزدگی پہ آئی او، ایس ایس پی انویسٹیگیشن اور ڈی آئی جی راولپنڈی کو انسداد دہشتگردی عدالت کے جج نے شو کاز دیا۔
عدالت نے شہریار کو کیس میں ڈسچارج کیا گیٹ پہ پنجاب پولیس نے شہریار اور وکلا پہ بد ترین تشدد کیا۔ وکلا شہریار کو عدالت کے اندر لے… pic.twitter.com/Z4v1obz6bE

— PTI Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (@PTIKPOfficial) August 4, 2023

A video posted by the party showed Afridi in torn clothes, breathing heavily, as his lawyers offered him water. Another clip depicted the PTI leader surrounded by a large contingent of police outside the court.

Earlier on Friday, the Rawalpindi ATC had directed authorities to release Afridi in connection with a case registered at the New Town police station relating to May 9 violence, Dawn said.

However, he 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.

Subsequently, Afridi was taken to Adiala Jail. This marks his second arrest within a week, as he was picked up by the police a day earlier following the Lahore High Court’s Rawalpindi bench granting him bail.

Speaking to the media shortly before his re-arrest, Afridi expressed his lamentation over being unaware of the reason for his re-arrest. He emphasized that he was a law-abiding and responsible citizen.

Meanwhile, his lawyer revealed that following Afridi’s release today, the police informed them about a “fresh MPO order.” The counsel added that Afridi respected the law and, therefore, was surrendering to what he deemed an “illegal” arrest. They vowed to challenge the detention order in the high court.