The Government of Sindh on Wednesday informed the Constitutional Bench of the Sindh High Court (SHC) that it has withdrawn detention orders issued under the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) Ordinance.
The constitutional bench was hearing petitions challenging the detention of PTI workers under the MPO. During the proceedings, the government’s counsel told the court that detention notifications of all detained individuals had been taken back.
“The detention withdrawal notification has been submitted to the court,” the lawyer stated.
Barrister Ali Tahir argued that the detention orders had been issued without approval from the Sindh cabinet and sought contempt of court proceedings against the Additional Chief Secretary (Home).
However, the bench observed that since the detention notifications had been withdrawn, the petitions had become infructuous. The court refused to initiate contempt proceedings against the Additional Chief Secretary (Home) and dismissed all related petitions.
Earlier, PTI had challenged the arrest of over 180 party workers before the SHC’s constitutional bench under the MPO.
Ahead of the PTI protest call on February 8, the Sindh Home Department had stated that the specified individuals were apprehended to prevent disruption of law and order and to avert threats to life and property. It had announced that the detainees would be shifted to Malir Jail for 30 days.
PTI’s counsel had argued that the large-scale arrests had caused panic among families and alleged that a crackdown had been launched in the city targeting party workers.
