LAHORE: The Lahore High Court has directed the ministry of foreign affairs (MoFA) secretary to process and decide, within 15 days, representations regarding two Pakistani citizens and PTI-affiliated individuals detained in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Justice Sadiq Mahmud Khurram issued written orders of Sept 14 hearings on two separate petitions filed by the families of the both individuals -- Syed Salman Raza Zaidi and Muhammad Junaid Jahangir.

Both petitions were filed through Barrister Abuzar Salman Niazi.

The counsel stated that Zaidi went missing from his residence in Sharjah on Sept 27, 2024, and was subsequently taken into custody by UAE authorities.

He said despite nearly two years having passed, the petitioner, Faryal Zainab, had still not been provided clear information regarding the charges against her husband Zaidi, the judicial proceedings, any sentence, or the complete court record.

About Jahangir, Advocate Niazi said he was allegedly detained on Sept 24, 2024, from Dubai airport on his return from Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Muhammad Ibrahim, the father of Jahangir, filed the petition challenging the alleged failure of the federal government and ministry of foreign affairs (foreign office) to provide effective consular protection and legal assistance.

The counsel for the petitioners submitted that despite representations having been filed regarding the detention of both citizens before the foreign secretary, the representations had not been processed.

He said leaving Pakistani citizens in an uninformed foreign custody deprives them of due process under Article 10A of the Constitution. He said the state cannot legally abandon its citizens.

Both petitioners had asked the court to direct that legal and consular assistance be provided to Zaidi and Jahangir, that their judicial records be obtained and that diplomatic-level steps be taken toward their return to Pakistan.

The petitions further sought a report before the court on the steps taken by the state so far.

After perusing the petitions and the appended documents, Justice Khurram directed the foreign secretary to process the petitioners’ representations regarding the detention of Zaidi and Jahangir in the UAE, if still pending, strictly in accordance with the law and expeditiously, preferably within a period of 15 days from the receipt of the certified copy of the orders.

With these directions and observations, the judge disposed of both petitions.

Published in Dawn, September 20th, 2026