The Sindh government has withdrawn all detention orders issued by the home department against PTI leaders and activists during the period from February 1 to February 9 under the MPO, a provincial law officer told the Sindh High Court (SHC) on Tuesday.
The officer filed a notification issued by the additional chief secretary (home). The court had directed the home department to justify the detention of more than 180 PTI members under the MPO.
The PTI members had challenged their detention under the MPO in the wake of a peaceful and democratic call for a nationwide wheel-jam and shutter-down strike scheduled for February 8. The law officer said the senior superintendents of the central prison and the Malir district jail have been directed to release the persons detained under the MPO forthwith if they are not required in any other case. The petitioners’ counsel expressed satisfaction, and requested the court to dispose of the petitions. An SHC division bench headed by Justice Mohammad Saleem Jessar disposed of the petitions. The court directed the senior superintendents of the central prison and the Malir district jail to release the persons detained under the MPO forthwith if they are not required in any other case.
Lanjar apologises
Sindh Home Minister Ziaul Hassan Lanjar on Tuesday apologised to PTI MPA Wajid Hussain for the police abuse during the February 8 protest. He said JI MPA Muhammad Farooq’s arrest is also being investigated. He was responding to both lawmakers’ objections during the provincial assembly session.
In Hussain’s case, Lanjar said police should not engage in any illegal act. After this incident, the SHO and the relevant staff have been removed. In Farooq’s case, he said action would be taken against those responsible. However, he stressed, it is inappropriate to cause trouble by blocking highways.
“Loudspeakers were installed on Sharea Faisal and both tracks were closed for traffic. People faced difficulties throughout the night. Sharea Faisal is an important highway. There are orders from the courts to register terrorism cases against those who block roads. Respected citizens do not block roads.”
He lamented that lawyers stormed a police station, while JI workers sat on the SHO’s chair. “If any movement is made against parliamentarians, we will take action against them because the party that is in power in Sindh is the party of Shaheed Bhutto and Bibi Shaheed.”
He said: “We ourselves have been victims of political revenge, but we do not want to do this to anyone. It is another matter that Faryal Talpur used to come to the assembly here as a prisoner. We were sent back to jail by making a boundary issue. Everyone needs to work within the law.”
