LAHORE MIRROR – Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Ali Mohammad Khan was released from Mardan jail on Thursday, mere hours after the Peshawar High Court (PHC) ordered his immediate release.
Ali Mohammad Khan had spent near to 80 days behind bars. Confirming the news of his release, Ali Mohammad’s lawyer, Shehryar Khattak, stated that the PTI leader had already left for his village in Hathian, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The series of arrests began on May 11 when Ali Mohammad was initially detained by the Secretariat police under Section 3 of the Maintenance of Public Order Order (MPO) due to his alleged involvement in the violence that occurred on May 9. The violence was part of the protests that erupted across the country following the arrest of PTI Chairman Imran Khan.
Despite being granted bail, Ali Mohammad faced further arrests by the anti-corruption establishment in Mardan, resulting in his prolonged detention. His lawyer, Khattak, claimed that his client was arrested seven more times in connection with several cases.
Recently, Ali Mohammad was granted bail in a corruption case by a Peshawar sessions court, where he submitted surety bonds of Rs200,000. However, immediately after the court’s decision to release him, he was re-arrested under the 3-MPO (Maintenance of Public Order) for a week following orders from the Mardan deputy commissioner.
Finally, on the basis of the PHC’s orders, Ali Mohammad was released from custody. Earlier, during the court proceeding, the PHC expressed its disapproval of Ali Mohammad’s multiple arrests. Justice Ijaz Anwar and Justice Fazal Subhan conducted the hearing and questioned the reason for the PTI leader’s latest re-arrest. The additional deputy commissioner of Mardan explained that the district police officer had sent a letter requesting the re-arrest under the 3-MPO.
Justice Anwar expressed his concern over the situation and summoned the deputy commissioner of Mardan to appear in court personally on August 8. The court then adjourned the hearing.
The release of Ali Mohammad Khan marks the end of his 80-day ordeal in detention, with the court signaling its disapproval of the repeated arrests and highlighting the need to address such issues effectively.
