QUETTA, Sept 12: Munir Ahmed Mengal, director of the Baloch Voice, has been released on the orders of the Balochistan High Court.

A BHC division bench comprising Chief Justice Amanullah Khan Yasinzai and Justice Akhtar Zaman Malghani declared Mr Mengal’s detention under the Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance unlawful.

Hearing a petition, the bench ruled against the detention on Monday but the written order was issued on Tuesday.

The petitioner’s counsel Jamilur Rehman contended that since there was no material against him his detention was illegal.

Balochistan Advocate-General Salahuddin Mengal opposed the petition.

Mr Mengal was arrested at Karachi airport on his arrival from Dubai on April 4, 2006, by intelligence personnel. On Aug 4, 2007, he was detained under the MPO for 30 days by the Balochistan home department and kept in the custody of Kalat police. The detention was extended for 30 days on Sept 3.

The advocate-general had on Sept 6 placed before the court the detention order stating that the petitioner was running the Baloch Voice website allegedly involved in anti-state activities.

Police officials told Dawn that Mr Mengal had been released on Tuesday.