Captain (Retd) Safdar, the husband of Pakistan Muslim League vice president Maryam Nawaz Sharif, who was arrested on Monday morning on violating the sanctity of Quaid’s mausoleum in Karachi, was released on bail later in the day.
Muhammad Safdar was given bail by the judicial magistrate on surety bonds of Rs 100,000.
The Sindh Police made the arrest the day after a First Information Report (FIR) was registered against Maryam Nawaz, Captain (r) Safdar and hundreds others on slogan-mongering inside the Quaid’s mausoleum.
The arrest of Capt(rt) Safdar was done according to law and the investigation will be impartial. Due process will be followed in all respect.
— Sindh Police (@sindhpolicedmc) October 19, 2020
The FIR was registered under Sections 6, 8 and 10 of the Quaid-e-Azam’s Mazar (Protection and Maintenance Ordinance, 1971).
The arrest was confirmed by Maryam Nawaz.
Police broke my room door at the hotel I was staying at in Karachi and arrested Capt. Safdar.
— Maryam Nawaz Sharif (@MaryamNSharif) October 19, 2020
However Minister for Education, Sindh and PPP President Karachi Senator Saeed Ghani regretted the incident at the mausoleum of Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah as “inappropriate”, and pointed that the action of the Karachi police was also condemnable. He clarified that the Sindh government had noting to do with the arrest of Safdar.
مزار قائد پر کیپٹن صفدر نے جو کچھ کیا وہ نامناسب تھا لیکن جس انداز میں کراچی پولیس نے گرفتاری کی ہے وہ قابل مذمت ہے۔کیپٹن صفدر کی گرفتاری سندھ حکومت کی ہدایات پر نہیں ہوئی ۔ پولیس کا یہ اقدام PDM کی جماعتوں میں خلیج پیدا کرنے کی سازش کا حصہ ہے جسے ہم ناکام بنائیں گے۔ https://t.co/jfaIBH10Eq
— Senator Saeed Ghani (@SaeedGhani1) October 19, 2020
Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Ali Haider Zaidi lauded the action taken by Inspector General Sindh against the hooligans, however termed the statement of Maryam Nawaz a lie.
Appreciate the quick action taken by IG Sindh against the the hooligans who disrespected Mazar-e-Quaid.
Law must take its course.
Maryum once again lying that the hotel door was broken. Video shows otherwise. Do u see any handcuffs? Does it look like he was arrested by force? pic.twitter.com/7DLHTiw2kA— Ali Haider Zaidi (@AliHZaidiPTI) October 19, 2020
Federal Minister for Science and Technology Chaudhry Fawad Hussain said the arrest by Sindh Police was reflective of the narrative of rule of law.
He said grave of the Quaid was a place of respect and reverence, not a “playground for mean politicians to display their irresponsible behaviour”.
سندہ پولیس کا کیپٹن صفدر کی گرفتاری کا عمل قانون کے احترام کا بیانیہ ہے،قائد اعظم محمدعلی جناح کی قبر اور ان کا مزار کم ظرف سیاسی قیادت کے کھیل کا میدان نہیں ہر پاکستانی کےلئےمقدس جائے ہے، قائد کے مزار پر اٹھکیلیاں ، نعرے بازی اور غیرسنجیدہ طرز عمل قانون کے خلاف ہے سزا ہونی چاہئے
— Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) October 19, 2020
Federal Minister for Education Shafqat Mehmood said he was ‘glad’ over arrest of Captain (r) Safdar for “committing a crime at Mazar-e-Quaid” yesterday.
I was not expecting it but I am glad Sindh Police has enforced the law and arrested Capt Safdar. He committed a crime at the mazar e Quaid yesterday and law must take its course https://t.co/GxxHK20qrK
— Shafqat Mahmood (@Shafqat_Mahmood) October 19, 2020
The arrested Captain (r) Safdar was presented before the court the same day for record of his statement and was released on bail by Judicial Magistrate East after submission of surety bonds worth Rs100,000.
We didn’t leave the Brigades police station for a second in the last 10 hours. Sindh police had refused to lodge the FIR, but our parliamentarians & insafians stayed firm & spent the night at the station & insured that we got the compliant lodged! pic.twitter.com/CByJ6cjsmV
— Haleem Adil Sheikh (@HaleemAdil) October 19, 2020
