KARACHI: The Sindh High Court on Friday directed the provincial authorities to produce the decision of cabinet for issuing detention orders of around 180 workers of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf under the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) Ordinance.

A two-judge constitutional bench of SHC headed by Justice Adnan Iqbal Chaudhary also issued notices to the respondents as well as advocate general Sindh on around 35 identical petitions for Feb 10.

It further directed the AG to produce the material that prevailed with the cabinet for issuing such orders at the next hearing.

The bench ordered the respondents to ensure that one family member of each detained person is allowed to visit them in jail.

Citing the chief secretary Sindh, secretary home department, the inspector general of Sindh and various other senior police officials as respondents, the petitions were filed by family members of the detainees.

They contended that the impugned notifications, issued on Feb 1 by the provincial home department on the advice of police, were illegal and without lawful authority.

Meanwhile, another constitutional bench of the SHC by Justice Yousuf Ali Sayeed directed the provincial home department to file comments on two identical petitions and also sought details about the grounds for issuing such orders and whether the impugned detention orders were passed with the approval of the provincial cabinet or government.

The PTI through its provincial general secretary Mansoor Ali Sial had petitioned the SHC and asserted that party workers were picked up from their houses and detained for one month.

Thereafter, Haji Mohammad, a brother of one of the detainees, had also filed a petition in the SHC impugning the detention order and at the last hearing, the bench issued notices to the respondents.

When these petitions came up for hearing on Friday, various deputy superintendents of police and inspectors appeared and filed comments. However, neither the advocate general Sindh nor any other law officer turned up.

The counsel for petitioners Ali Tahir asserted that the home department has no authority to issue such orders and pleaded to suspend the same.

Justice Sayeed remarked that a law point was raised in these matters whether secretary home department was empowered to issue such detention orders or it was the prerogative of the provincial government?

The bench directed the provincial law officer to turn up and assist it on the subject matter. Therea­fter, the advocate general Sindh Jawad Dero appeared before the bench and sought more time to file comments on the behalf of home department.

The bench sought details whether impugned orders were approved by the provincial cabinet or government and the material that prevailed for “satisfaction” of the government in terms of Section 3 (1) of the MPO.

Published in Dawn, February 7th, 2026