LAHORE, Jan 3: The petition challenging the detention of Dr Ahmad Javed Khwaja and four other family members could not be taken up by the Lahore High Court on Friday as it was not marked to any judge for hearing.

Justice Bashir A. Mujahid told petitioners’ counsel Hamid Khan that his petition challenging the detention of the accused under the Security of Pakistan Act, 1952, had not been marked to him for hearing.

Justice Mujahid advised the counsel to contact the LHC office because the case would be heard by another judge as he would be proceeding on leave next week.

The petition seeks the quashment of three months detention order passed against Dr Ahmad Javed Khwaja, Naveed AHmad Khwaja, Dr Umar Karar, Dr Khizar Ali and Muhammad Usman for being illegal and unjust.

According to the petitioner, the grounds for detention conveyed to them were inadequate and vague, and the accused could not defend themselves unless told about the exact nature of anti-state activities carried out by them allegedly.

The Punjab Advocate-General had claimed on Dec 31 that following the detention orders passed by the Interior Ministry, the habeas corpus petition filed by Dr Ahmad Khwaja’s wife had become infructuous. However, the petitioners have not withdrawn it as yet and would argue it along with the petition challenging their detention on the next hearing.