Muhammad Irshad
PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court on Wednesday restrained police from arresting Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly Deputy Speaker Suraiya Bibi under Section 3 of the Maintenance of Public Order (3-MPO) and suspended the notification for sealing her residence, directing the authorities to de-seal the premises immediately.
A bench comprising Justice Ijaz Anwar and Justice Mohammad Faheem Wali issued the directives while hearing a petition filed by Suriya Bibi against a police raid on her residence, its sealing and the threat of her arrest.
During the hearing, her counsel submitted that the government residence had been allotted to the petitioner in 2024. He said that the authorities raided the house on Oct 14 and sealed it following the imposition of an emergency and Governor’s Rule in the province on Oct 11.
The counsel argued that the residence could not lawfully be sealed even during an emergency and requested the court to restrain the authorities from arresting the deputy speaker and order the house’s de-sealing.
The court suspended the notification regarding the sealing of the residence and directed the authorities to restore access to the premises forthwith. It also restrained the police from arresting Ms Bibi under 3-MPO.
The bench sought replies from the chief secretary, inspector general of police and other respondents before the next hearing.
Related: