PTI approaches SHC over detention of workers under MPO

Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf on Monday filed a petition in the Sindh High Court (SHC) against alleged detention of its over 180 workers under the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) Ordinance.

The constitutional petition was filed by PTI Sindh General Secretary Mansoor Ali and Insaf Lawyers Forum President Faisal Mughal.

In the petition, the court has been requested to set aside the MPO order dated February 1 and sought the immediate release of the detained party workers.

According to the petition, 14 officials have been named as respondents. These include the provincial chief secretary, additional chief secretary, inspector general of police Sindh, the Central Police Office, additional IGP Karachi, deputy IGPs of east, west and south zones, and SSPs of Karachi’s east, west, south, central, Malir, Korangi and Keamari districts.

The petitioners urged the court to declare the MPO orders “unconstitutional, illegal, without lawful authority, void ab initio, coram non judice, and of no legal effect.”

PTI alleged in the petition that law enforcement agencies carried out hundreds of illegal raids, entering private homes without warrants, mostly late at night, and detaining citizens without following due legal process.

It further claimed that in the 180 documented cases, police officials “broke down doors, vandalised property, and looted personal belongings” during the raids.

The petition also argued that the MPO orders were issued without any “lawful decision, approval or satisfaction of the Provincial Cabinet,”