Shah Mehmood Qureshi, vice chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), was ordered released on Thursday by the Islamabad High Court (IHC), which deemed his arrest to be unlawful and unfortunate.
The court nullified the former foreign minister of Pakistan’s detention and ordered the relevant authorities to secure his release upon the execution of an undertaking.
Shah Mehmood Qureshi was taken into custody from his residence in Islamabad after the PTI employees and supporters’ last week’s violent rallies and rioting.
According to sources close to the former foreign minister, Qureshi has yet to go home despite the court’s decision for his release.
Imran Khan was detained by Pakistani security personnel on May 9 while on the grounds of IHC. After the PTI Chairman was taken into custody, his followers went to the streets and vandalised army facilities and public spaces. Shah Mehmood Qureshi and several members of Imran’s inner circle were detained on suspicion of instigating unrest.
Shah Mehmood Qureshi, who also serves as the Vice Chairman of the PTI, has strong links to the Pakistani military and does not want his party to oppose the military.
Additionally, it has been claimed that a complaint filed at the Tarnol police station in the federal capital resulted in the arrest of many female PTI party officials, including Shireen Mazari and Senator Falak Naz.
Imran Khan vehemently denounced and referred to the arrests of various PTI party officials and members as “illegal arrest and abduction” after the unruly rallies.