PESHAWAR, Jan 7: A two-member bench of the Peshawar High Court will take up for preliminary hearing of a writ petition challenging the detention of Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam chief, Maulana Fazlur Rehman, on Wednesday.

The petition was filed by provincial deputy chief of the JUI Sahibzada Khalid Ahmad Benori through advocate Essa Khan.

The petitioner stated that the detenu was the leader of one of the large political party and under the law he had the right to organize public gatherings and meeting on the issues of national interest.

The petitioner stated that not a single instance had been mentioned in the order communicated to the detenu that any assembly formed on his call, had gone violent and caused any damage to the public or private property.

The petitioner said the detenu was arrested on Oct 6. The detention has since then been extended through various orders.

The petitioner has prayed the court to declare the detention order as illegal, unlawful, unconstitutional and set the detenu at liberty.