The Islamabad High Court (IHC) took significant steps on Thursday byindicting several individuals, including Deputy Commissioner Irfan NawazMemon, in a contempt case related to the prolonged detention of PTI leadersShehryar Afridi and Shandana Gulzar under the Maintenance of Public Order(MPO) ordinance. Presiding over the hearing, Justice Babar Sattar alsobrought charges against Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) operationsJamil Zafar, Superintendent of Police (SP) Farooq Buttar, and MargallaStation House Officer (SHO) Nasir Manzoor.
This development followed a decision by the IHC, just a day prior, tostrip the district magistrate of Islamabad of the authority to detainsuspects under the MPO while addressing the same case. The PTI leaders,Shehryar Afridi and Shandana Gulzar, had been held in police custody inconnection with the May 9 violence, with Afridi’s initial arrest on May 16and Gulzar’s detention on August 9. On August 16, the IHC permitted Afridiand Gulzar’s release and decided to proceed with the contempt chargesagainst the DC and SSP due to their unsatisfactory responses to the court.
In the course of today’s proceedings, DC Memon offered an unconditionalapology to the court and appealed to avoid his indictment. However, afterthe indictment, both the DC and the three other officers denied thecharges. SSP Zafar requested additional time to prepare his defense.Advocate General Ayaz Shaukat argued against indicting the officials,emphasizing their unconditional apology. However, Justice Sattar pointedout the seriousness of the contempt of court issue, given the circumstances.
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Addressing the officials, Justice Sattar reminded them that the potentialsentence for contempt is six months, suggesting they experience what it’slike for those they detain. DC Memon insisted that the detention order wasnot intended to violate the court’s order and presented an unconditionalapology, which was rejected. Subsequently, DC Memon was indicted, followedby the initiation of proceedings to indict SSP Zafar. The SSP denied thecharges and sought more time to defend himself. Similarly, SP Buttar andSHO Manzoor were also indicted, with them also denying the charges, and thehearing was adjourned.
