Latest news with #MPO)Ordinance
Express Tribune
11-06-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Sister challenges Mahrang's detention in apex court
A sister of Baloch rights activist Dr Mahrang Baloch has approached the Supreme Court against an order of the Balochistan High Court (BHC) in her sister's detention case. A division bench of the BHC on April 15 dismissed Dr Mahrang's petition against her detention under the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) Ordinance, 1960, stating that an alternative remedy was available to the activist in the shape of a representation. The bench had also converted the petition into a representation and directed its office to present it before the competent authority constituted for the purpose of deciding representations under the MPO. The petitioner, Nadia Baloch, contended that the BHC erred in holding that a petition could be filed before a court only after exhausting the option of filing a representation. The petition argued that the high court in its writ jurisdiction is competent to intervene and directly grant relief to a petitioner by determining the legality of an MPO order without the need of the detained person making a representation. It said that the BHC did not consider Dr Mahrang's right to file habeas corpus petition. "[This is her] high prerogative right and a constitutional remedy for all matters if illegal confinement," the petition said.
Express Tribune
29-03-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
LHC larger bench to hear MPO case on 7th
The Lahore High Court (LHC) chief justice, Aalia Neelum, has formed a larger bench to hear a plea filed by the government against suspension of a detention law, the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) Ordinance, 1960. A day earlier, on Thursday, CJ Aalia Neelum reserved her order while hearing an application for an early hearing of a petition filed against the LHC's last year's order. The CJ unveiled her order on Friday, announcing formation of a larger bench to hear the government appeal. The LHC on Nov 1, 2024 temporarily restrained the deputy commissioners (DCs) in Punjab from issuing further detention orders under section 3 of the MPO Ordinance 1960. Justice Muhammad Amjad Rafiq passed the order while hearing a petition filed by a PTI leader At the last hearing of the case, PTI's counsel Azhar Siddique had raised objection to the bench comprising Justice Neelum, contending that the matter was still pending in the court of Justice Rafiq. He argued that the bench comprising the CJ did not have the jurisdiction to hear this case. He said Justice Rafiq had already examined the case in great detail. "Justice Amjad Rafiq had issued a stay order in accordance with the law," he said. The CJ remarked that Justice Rafiq was currently hearing cases at the LHC's Multan Registry. Siddique argued that the bench of Justice Amjad Rafiq was in Lahore on March 21 and the case cannot be listed before this bench. The CJ, however, rejected his contention, asking him to "keep quiet". She later reserved her order in the case amid protest by the counsel.
