KARACHI, May 18: The Sindh High Court issued notice to the advocate-general in a petition questioning the expulsion of Ms Asma Jehangir, Chairperson of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP), from Sindh.

Petitioner Zohra Yusuf, HRCP Vice-Chairperson, submitted through Advocates Iqbal Haider and Malik M. Ejaz that Ms Jehangir arrived in Karachi on May 12 along with Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry and 24 advocates. They were not allowed to leave the airport, and later in the evening, the provincial government issued orders under Section 5(1) (a) and (c) of the Sindh Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance requiring them all to leave the airport and the province.

The petition said the order was passed without any lawful authority, was based on false and unfounded allegations and was mala fide. It was repugnant not only to the fundamental rights guaranteed by Articles 9, 10, 15, 16, 17 and 25 of the Constitution but also to the provisions of the MPO and the principles of natural justice. The court was requested to set it aside.

The petition came up before a bench consisting of Acting Chief Justice Sarmad Jalal Osmany and Justice Ali Sain Dino Metlo which directed that the AG be issued notice for May 23 for his comments.