Federal Constitutional Court directs Peshawar High Court to halt hearings in MPO arrest cases until further orders as notices are issued to parties.
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Federal Constitutional Court has directed the Peshawar High Court to stop hearing cases involving arrests under the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) law until further orders.
The order was issued on Thursday, November 5, 2026, during proceedings concerning the detention of individuals under Section 3 of the MPO Ordinance.
Chief Justice Aminuddin Khan, heading a two-member bench, heard the matter and announced that notices would be issued to the relevant parties.
The court also clarified that other affected parties could submit their applications after reviewing the judicial order.
Provincial Government Challenges High Court Orders
The proceedings concern multiple cases involving arrests under Section 3 of the MPO Ordinance in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The provincial government had approached the Federal Constitutional Court through the Advocate General, challenging various orders issued by the Peshawar High Court.
The High Court had previously issued interim directions preventing the arrests of certain individuals under the disputed detention proceedings.
The provincial government’s challenge brought the matter before the Federal Constitutional Court for consideration.
Sohel Afridi’s Case Also Involved
The matter includes pending proceedings concerning Sohel Afridi and other individuals facing detention under Section 3 of the MPO Ordinance.
Their cases were already pending before the Peshawar High Court when the provincial government challenged the earlier judicial directions.
The latest order affects the High Court’s handling of these cases until further directions are issued by the Federal Constitutional Court.
Court Issues Notices to Relevant Parties
During the hearing, Chief Justice Aminuddin Khan stated that notices would be issued to the parties involved in the proceedings.
The court’s direction is an interim procedural development, and the underlying legal disputes have not yet been finally decided.
The next proceedings will determine how the challenges to the Peshawar High Court’s orders are addressed.
The case has significant implications for ongoing legal proceedings involving preventive detention under the MPO Ordinance in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
