Islamabad (The COW News Digital) Pakistan’s Federal Constitutional Court has barred the Peshawar High Court from hearing cases related to arrests under the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) Ordinance and suspended challenged orders issued by various benches of the high court.
The decision was announced during a hearing on a review petition filed against the Peshawar High Court’s orders restricting arrests under the MPO.
A two-member bench of the Federal Constitutional Court, headed by Chief Justice Aminuddin Khan, heard the petition.
During the proceedings, lawyer Shah Faisal requested the court to hear the parties before issuing a stay order. He argued that the provincial government’s three objections could not be sustained.
Chief Justice Aminuddin Khan responded by directing the lawyer to read the court’s order and submit objections accordingly. He said notices were being issued to the parties, who could file their responses after reviewing the judicial order.
Following the hearing, the Federal Constitutional Court directed the Peshawar High Court not to hear cases concerning arrests under the MPO. It also suspended the challenged orders issued by various benches of the high court.
The dispute stems from interim orders issued by the Peshawar High Court, which had restrained authorities from making arrests under Section 3 of the MPO Ordinance.
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government subsequently challenged those orders before the Federal Constitutional Court.
The latest ruling marks a significant development in the ongoing legal dispute over preventive arrests under the MPO in the province.
