ISLAMABAD: On Thursday, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) temporarily reinstated the ability of the deputy commissioner (DC) of the federal capital to issue instructions in accordance with Section 3 of the Maintenance of Public Order (3-MPO).
Justice Amir Farooq and Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri of the International High Court delivered the ruling while they were considering a petition that was filed against the stay that had been given earlier by the single bench that Justice Babar Sattar had presided over.
Additionally, notices were circulated to the parties regarding the appeal that was filed by the chief commissioner and others against the ruling that Justice Sattar had made.
Earlier, Justice Sattar ruled that the District of Columbia’s authority to grant MPO was unlawful. An appeal against the decision was lodged inside the court by the chief commissioner and the home secretary after the verdict was handed down.
The topic of power to issue MPO had been brought before the court, following the frequent detentions of several PTI leaders based on MPO as part of the crackdown against the party that had previously been in political power.
On September 7, the IHC granted the Islamabad DC a temporary restraining order that prevented it from exercising section 3-MPO powers until further notice.
Justice Sattar issued a ruling that the District of Columbia is not permitted to employ the powers granted by Section 3 of the MPO until further notice. Additionally, he issued a notice to the Attorney General, requesting assistance in assessing whether or not the ordinance is constitutional and legal.
