KARACHI: The Sindh High Court on Monday issued notices to provincial authorities and police on petitions against detention of workers of the Altaf Hussain-led Muttahida Qaumi Movement, commonly known as MQM-London, under the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) Ordinance.

A two-judge bench, headed by Justice Adnan Iqbal Chaudary, asked the respondents as well as the advocate general to file comments till July 24.

Petitioners Sumaira Amir and Muhammad Mushtaq moved SHC against detention of their relatives Mohammad Amir alias Sonara and Mukhtar. Their counsel argued that the detainees, along with around 40 others, had been placed under 30-day detention at the central prison under the MPO.

Citing the chief secretary, home secretary, inspector general of police and others as respondents, they submitted that their relatives were arrested on July 9 for allegedly taking part in a rally in support of MQM-founder Hussain in Korangi.

They further submitted that a day later a judicial magistrate had granted them bail, but the authorities did not set them free and detained them under Section 16 of the MPO, 1960.

The counsel stated that the impugned detention orders were illegal and without any lawful authority and asked the court to set aside the detention orders and ordered the release of detainees.

Published in Dawn, July 18th, 2023