Justice Babar Sattar of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) has declared that the Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Islamabad does not possess the authority to issue 3MPOs. The court heard the case of the arrest of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leader Shehryar Afridi and Shandana Gulzar under the 3MPO. The court accepted the pleas of Afridi and Gulzar, challenging the MPO order, and deemed the 3MPO powers under Act PO 18, 1980 as illegal. Justice Babar Sattar delivered a decisive verdict, stating that the power to issue 3MPOs should be exclusively vested in the federal cabinet, not in the hands of the Deputy Commissioner. Following the court's decision, Babar Awan addressed the media at the Islamabad High Court, stating, "Justice Babar Sattar has emphasized that action should be taken against those arrested under 3MPO."

Awan further criticized the powers granted to the Deputy Commissioner and the Commissioner under martial law orders, deeming them incorrect. The court's ruling has rendered the 3MPO order invalid, emphasizing that only the Cabinet can issue such orders within Islamabad. Babar Awan also took the opportunity to comment on the recent incident where Shahbaz Sharif reportedly attacked the Peshawar High Court. Awan suggested that if Shahbaz Sharif is aggrieved, he should approach the Peshawar High Court as a party, enabling a discussion on how many National Reconciliation Ordinances (NROs) have been obtained. Awan asserted that the nation will not tolerate further corruption, highlighting the apparent reluctance of some individuals to participate in elections.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)