{"id":686,"date":"2026-11-05T07:06:59","date_gmt":"2026-11-05T07:06:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dashboard.bluntlinenetwork.com\/en\/?p=686"},"modified":"2026-11-05T07:06:59","modified_gmt":"2026-11-05T07:06:59","slug":"federal-constitutional-court-suspends-peshawar-high-court-orders-on-3-mpo-arrests","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dashboard.bluntlinenetwork.com\/en\/2026\/11\/05\/686","title":{"rendered":"Federal Constitutional Court Suspends Peshawar High Court Orders on 3 MPO Arrests"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

ISLAMABAD:<\/strong> Pakistan’s Federal Constitutional Court has suspended the Peshawar High Court’s interim orders concerning arrests under Section 3 of the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) law.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The court also restrained the Peshawar High Court from hearing cases related to the disputed orders, according to the reported proceedings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The decision came during a hearing on a petition filed by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government challenging the high court’s earlier restrictions on arrests under the 3 MPO law.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A two-member bench headed by Chief Justice Aminuddin Khan heard the case, during which questions were raised about the constitutional powers of high courts and the application of Article 245 of Pakistan’s Constitution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Federal Constitutional Court Issues Notices to Parties<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

During the proceedings, Chief Justice Aminuddin Khan announced that notices would be issued to the parties concerned so they could present their legal arguments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He stated that other affected parties could also review the court’s order and submit applications or objections if necessary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The chief justice emphasized that the relevant parties would have an opportunity to present their positions as the case moved forward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The court’s directions came as lawyers debated the legality of the Peshawar High Court’s interim orders and the constitutional restrictions that may apply in certain circumstances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

KP Advocate General Raises Article 245 Argument<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The Advocate General of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa argued that Article 245 of the Constitution limits the jurisdiction of high courts in areas where the armed forces are operating under the relevant constitutional provisions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to the advocate general, the Peshawar High Court could not exercise its powers under Article 199 in areas covered by such military operations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Article 199 generally provides high courts with constitutional jurisdiction to examine certain actions of public authorities and protect legal rights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the KP government’s legal representative maintained that restrictions under Article 245 were relevant to the disputed proceedings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Justice Aamer Farooq Questions High Court Jurisdiction<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

During the hearing, Justice Aamer Farooq questioned the implications of the argument presented by the KP Advocate General.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He observed that high courts regularly receive numerous petitions under Article 199 of the Constitution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The judge asked whether the proposed interpretation meant that high courts would be unable to hear those petitions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

His remarks brought attention to the legal question of how constitutional jurisdiction should operate when Article 245 is invoked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The issue formed an important part of the arguments presented before the Federal Constitutional Court.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lawyer Objects to Interim Relief<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Advocate Shah Faisal Ilyas also raised objections during the hearing, requesting that the court hear his arguments before issuing an interim order.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Responding to the objection, Chief Justice Aminuddin Khan directed the lawyer to review the court’s written order and submit any objections through the appropriate legal procedure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The chief justice further stated that other concerned parties could also file applications after examining the order.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Following the arguments, the bench issued notices to the relevant parties and suspended the Peshawar High Court’s interim directions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The court subsequently adjourned further proceedings for an indefinite period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Background of the 3 MPO Arrests Case<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The legal dispute began after the Peshawar High Court issued interim orders restricting arrests under Section 3 of the Maintenance of Public Order law.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government challenged those directions before the Federal Constitutional Court.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Section 3 of the MPO law provides for preventive detention under specified legal conditions where authorities consider such action necessary for maintaining public order.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the exercise of preventive detention powers remains subject to applicable constitutional and legal safeguards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The case has raised questions about the relationship between preventive detention laws, the constitutional jurisdiction of high courts and the powers available to authorities in areas where Article 245 applies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Final Decision on Constitutional Questions Still Pending<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The Federal Constitutional Court’s latest order represents an interim development in the legal proceedings rather than a final determination of all constitutional questions raised in the case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The suspension affects the Peshawar High Court’s disputed interim directions, while the parties will have an opportunity to present further arguments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The precise scope of the restrictions imposed on the high court will depend on the wording of the Federal Constitutional Court’s written order.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With the next hearing yet to be scheduled, further developments are expected after the relevant parties submit their responses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The case remains significant because it concerns the limits of judicial authority, preventive detention powers and the constitutional framework governing security-related measures in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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