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PTI Challenges Alleged Detention of 180 Workers Under MPO in Sindh High Court
PTI has moved the Sindh High Court against the alleged detention of over 180 party workers under the MPO Ordinance, calling the raids illegal, unconstitutional, and politically motivated.
ND
by News Desk
2026-02-02
PTI Challenges Alleged Detention of 180 Workers Under MPO in Sindh High Court

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Monday approached the Sindh High Court (SHC), challenging the alleged detention of more than 180 party workers during police raids carried out across Karachi and other parts of Sindh under the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) Ordinance.

According to PTI, law enforcement agencies conducted pre-dawn raids on Sunday, targeting the homes of party workers and leaders, and detained around 180 individuals. The Sindh government, however, has categorically denied the allegations, stating that no mass arrests or detentions under the MPO have taken place.

A two-member constitutional bench of the SHC, comprising Justice Muhammad Saleem Jessar and Justice Nisar Ahmed Bhanbhro, initially took up the petition for hearing. Advocate Ali Tahir represented the petitioners. However, Justice Bhanbhro later recused himself from the case, prompting the bench to direct the registrar’s office to fix the matter for hearing on Tuesday due to urgency. The case will now be heard by another two-member bench.

The petition was filed by PTI Sindh General Secretary Mansoor Ali and Insaf Lawyers Forum President Faisal Mughal. They requested the court to declare the MPO order dated February 1 unlawful and sought the immediate release of all detained party workers.

Fourteen respondents were named in the petition, including the provincial chief secretary, additional chief secretary, inspector general of police, Karachi additional IG, deputy IGs of Karachi’s East, West and South zones, and SSPs of multiple districts including East, West, South, Central, Malir, Korangi, and Keamari.

The petitioners urged the court to declare the MPO orders unconstitutional, illegal, void ab initio, and issued without lawful authority. They alleged that law enforcement agencies conducted hundreds of illegal raids without warrants, stormed private homes at night, and abducted citizens without due process. The petition further claimed that police personnel broke down doors, vandalised property, and looted personal belongings in at least 180 documented cases.

According to the petition, the detention orders were issued without any lawful approval or satisfaction of the provincial cabinet, in direct violation of multiple constitutional provisions, including Articles 4, 9, 10, 15, 16, 17, 19, and 25 of the Constitution.

The petitioners argued that the impugned orders amounted to a mala fide, arbitrary, and politically motivated exercise of power aimed at suppressing political opposition and peaceful democratic activity, rather than maintaining public order.

The plea emphasised that PTI, as a registered political party, has a constitutional right to organise and participate in peaceful political activities, including protests and strikes. It sought the suspension and complete setting aside of the MPO orders and requested the court to restrain authorities from taking any action based on them.

The petition also called for the immediate release of all individuals arrested or detained under the MPO orders and sought protection against re-arrest on the same grounds. It further requested the court to declare all actions taken pursuant to the orders illegal and unconstitutional.

Additionally, the petition asked the court to direct the respondents to present the complete original record related to the issuance of the MPO orders, including intelligence reports, summaries, approvals, and any consideration by the provincial cabinet.

The petitioners also sought initiation of contempt of court proceedings against the additional chief secretary (home), alleging willful disobedience of previous SHC judgments related to MPO detentions.

Meanwhile, PTI Sindh President Haleem Adil Sheikh criticised the provincial government, stating that 180 PTI office-bearers and workers were detained under MPO-3 for one month merely for announcing a peaceful and voluntary strike scheduled for February 8.

In a post on X, Sheikh accused the government of repression, deception, and abuse of power, alleging that detention orders were issued quietly after ministers publicly denied any arrests.

On the other hand, the Sindh government strongly rejected PTI’s claims. Senior Sindh Minister and Information Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon termed the allegations false and misleading, saying no blanket detention orders had been issued.

Speaking to Dawn, Memon said PTI was spreading false narratives to create political hype ahead of its planned protest on February 8, adding that law enforcement agencies were acting strictly within the bounds of the law.
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