IHC says Islamabad DC does not have authority to issue 3MPO

The Islamabad High Court has said that the deputy commission of the federal capital does not have the authority to issue 3MPO, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

IHC Justice Babar Sattar Friday announced a reserved decision on the petitions filed by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leaders Shehryar Afridi and Shandana Gulzar challenging their arrests under 3MPO.

The court allowed the pleas of Afridi and Shandana Gulzar against the MPO order and declared the Act PO 18, 1980 of the 3MPO illegal.

While announcing the reserved verdict, Justice Babar Sattar said that Islamabad Deputy Commissioner does not have the authority to issue 3MPO. The power of 3MPO should be vested only in the Federal Cabinet.

Later, talking to the media outside the Islamabad High Court, PTI lawyer Babar Awan said that the IHC had said that action should be taken against those who made arrests under 3MPO.

He said that the powers given to the Deputy Commissioner and the Commissioner under the martial law order are wrong. The court has declared the 3MPO order invalid. Only the Federal Cabinet can pass orders within Islamabad, Awan added.

Reporter Rozina Ali