Released on bail by SC, five May 9 suspects detained under MPO law

RAWALPINDI: Five individuals involved in the unrest of May 9, who were recently granted bail by the Supreme Court, have been re-arrested under 16 MPO.

Rawalpindi’s Deputy Commissioner Hasan Waqar Cheema invoked the 16 MPO immediately after their release. This led to their prompt arrest upon exiting the Adiala jail in Rawalpindi on Wednesday night, subsequent to the submission of their surety bonds.

Owais, Saifullah, Nasrullah, Kamran and Waqas were involved in the case of violence documented in the records of New Town Police Station on May 9.

Last week, a panel of three judges comprising Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail, Justice Hasan Azhar Rizvi and Justice Mussarat Hilali, had granted bail to the five suspects involved in the May 9 violence case.

During the proceedings, Justice Mandokhail had remarked that the authorities seemed to be targeting individuals participating in political rallies rather than apprehending the actual perpetrators of terrorism.

The bail, set at Rs50,000 each in the form of surety bonds, was approved by the apex court, with instructions for the trial court to deliver a verdict without succumbing to external influences.