LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Friday set aside a detention order issued by the deputy commissioner (DC) against PTI leader Usman Farooq after the Punjab government’s law officers failed to satisfy the court about the grounds for his detention.

Justice Farooq Haider allowed a petition filed by Muhammad Farooq, challenging the detention of his son Usman Farooq.

Advocate Malik Ahad Awan appeared for the petitioner, while Additional Advocate Generals Chaudhry Mohammad Nawaz, Mudassar Naveed Chattha and Assistant Advocate General Farrukh Irfan Khan Lodhi represented the government.

The petitioner’s counsel argued that Usman had remained in jail for around a year and was detained again after his release.

He said the petitioner’s son had not been convicted in any case and had been arrested only in connection with a May 9 case.

The judge noted that the government had initially claimed that Usman had no association with the political party, while the detention order contained a contrary position.

He also observed that the detention order did not mention any date and the facts cited in it also did not appear to be consistent.

The government law officers opposed the petition, arguing that the detainee had a statutory forum available to challenge his detention, but did not approach it.

They asked the court to dismiss the petition.

After hearing arguments from both sides, Justice Haider allowed the petition and set aside the deputy commissioner’s order of detaining Usman Farooq.

Published in Dawn, September 19th, 2026