PESHAWAR, Dec 22: A two-member bench of the Peshawar High Court on Wednesday put the deputy attorney-general and NWFP advocate-general on notice in a habeas corpus petition challenging the detention of an activist of a defunct organization allegedly by an intelligence agency.

The bench comprising Justice Tariq Pervez and Justice Dost Mohammad Khan also sought comments form the provincial government. The petition was filed by Fatima Bibi, mother of the detainee, Liaqat Ali, who is believed to be an activist of the proscribed organization, Sipah-i-Sahaba Pakistan.

The petitioner stated that her son had been picked up from a barber shop at Kohati bazzar here on Nov 29. She added that he had been arrested by some officials of an intelligence agency who were in plain clothes.

Advocate Khursheed Ahmad Shahan appeared for the petitioner and argued that the continuous detention of the detainee was unconstitutional and against the law. He contended that under the constitution a detainee had to be produced within 24 hours of his arrest.

Mr Shahan stated that till today the petitioner had not been communicated regarding the whereabouts of the detainee. He requested the court to issue production order of the detainee.