DC Islamabad's authority to issue 3MPO 'temporarily restored' by IHC

ISLAMABAD: Quashing the order issued by its single bench last month, the Islamabad High Court has "temporarily" restored the deputy commissioner Islamabad's authority to issue the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO).

Issued by a two-member bench comprising IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri on Thursday, today's verdict came after the court suspended its single bench's decision to stop DC Islamabad from issuing the MPO order, issuing a notice to the parties on the appeal of the chief commissioner and others against the decision.

Following the decision, it has temporarily restored the authority of DC Islamabad taking action on their intra-court appeal for an injunction.

Last month, Justice Babar Sattar's single bench declared DC Islamabad's authority to issue MPO "null and void" pertaining to the case of arresting Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders Shehryar Afridi and Shandana Gulzar under the order.

The chief commissioner and home secretary, after the decision, filed an intra-court appeal against the single bench's decision, on which the court issued notices to the parties.

Justice Sattar's court said DC Islamabad does not have the authority to issue 3 MPOs, the authority of 3 MPOs should be vested only in the federal cabinet.

The IHC then disposed of Afridi and Gulzar's petition, declaring Section 18 of the 3MPO Act, 1980 as illegal.