ISLAMABAD, Dec 13: The Rawalpindi Bench of the Lahore High Court has directed two jail officials to appear before it on Thursday to explain the continued detention of a citizen, Mehboob Illahi.

Mr Illahi was arrested in Islamabad on August 26 under the Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance (MPO) for allegedly sheltering a proclaimed offender. He was put in the Rawalpindi Police Lines, declared as a sub-jail.

Justice Sardar Mohammad Aslam issued summons to the in charge of the sub-jail and the superintendent of Adiala Jail on Wednesday while hearing a petition filed by Mr Illahi’s brother, Maulana Shah Abdul Aziz, who is a Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal MNA from Karak.

Maulana Aziz’s counsel argued before the court that the continuous detention of Mehboob Illahi was politically motivated. He said Mr Illahi had not committed any crime and was being held even after the three-month MPO sentence had expired.

He prayed the court to set Mr Illahi free.