LAHORE, March 26: Alliance for Restoration of Democracy leader Nawabzada Nasrullah Khan has challenged his externment from Lahore for 30 days in the Lahore High Court.

A writ petition moved by him on Tuesday through advocate Chaudhry Naseer Bhutta said under Section 5 of the Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance 1960, he could not have been expelled from the place of his ordinary residence. He not only normally resides in Lahore along with his family but is also under treatment in the metropolis for his heart ailment.

Besides, the MPO empowers the district magistrate to act under it but the impugned order was issued by the Home Department secretary. The law has not been changed after the abolition of the DM’s office.

Nawabzada Nasrullah described the apprehension that he would make an ‘inflammatory’ speech at the abortive public meeting at Mochi Gate on March 23 as ‘absurd.’ He would only have demanded revival of the constitutional rule, he said.