LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Friday heard the bail plea of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) for party leaders who voluntarily surrendered themselves to the police as part of the Jail Bharo Tehreek.
A day ago, several petitions were filed in the Lahore High Court for the release of detained PTI leaders.
PTI members including Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Asad Umar, Azam Swati and other senior leaders were taken into police custody near Mall Road in Lahore on Wednesday evening, the day the judicial arrest motion was launched.
Justice Shahram Sarwar Choudhary heard the petitions of PTI. During the hearing, the court asked the petitioner’s lawyer why the party members have been arrested.
On this, the lawyer said that the party has started the “jail fill” movement.
Justice Chaudhry said that why are they playing with the courts?
To this, the lawyer said: “We are not asking for bail, these are symbolic arrests and we are here to protect the rights of the leaders.”
The courtroom erupted with laughter at the lawyer’s reply.
After that, the court remarked that you were asking to arrest yourself, now that you have been arrested, is it an emergency?
PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi’s son Zain Qureshi also appeared in the court.
“I was not arrested but my father was and I am not allowed to meet him,” Qureshi’s son said.
To which Justice Chaudhry replied that ‘Go to a place where Section 144 is applied, you will be arrested and you will be able to meet them.
His comment once again caused laughter in the room.
According to Tehreek-e-Insaf’s argument, the movement aims to counter “attacks on constitutionally guaranteed fundamental rights” and “economic corruption” by the current government.
PTI Lahore president Sheikh Imtiaz claimed that 47 leaders and activists were arrested on Wednesday, but police officials say the number is closer to 80.
