Nearly there: SHC to hear Afaq’s challenge to MPO today

Afaq Ahmed was detained again since it was believed his release could spark sectarian violence.

KARACHI:

The Sindh High Court will hear today Afaq Ahmed’s petition challenging the government’s decision to detain him for another 30 days even though he could be out on bail.

The chairman of the Mohajir Qaumi Movement (MQM-Haqiqi) was almost freed on Tuesday when the home department issued detention orders under the Maintenance of Public Order rules.

The home department said that it was feared that his party’s men had formed an alliance with the Sipah-e-Sahaba and thus his release could provoke sectarian violence.

Afaq immediately challenged the order but it could not be heard. It will now be heard on Thursday by a bench headed by Chief Justice Mushir Alam and the advocate general of Sindh has already been served notice, said Afaq’s attorney Syed Iqbal Kazmi.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 1^st, 2011.