Summary Peshawar High Court bars Suraiya Bibi’s arrest under 3-MPO, orders her house unsealed and seeks responses from senior provincial officials.
PESHAWAR (Dunya News) - The Peshawar High Court has restrained authorities from arresting Provincial Assembly Deputy Speaker Suraiya Bibi under the Maintenance of Public Order (3-MPO) and ordered the unsealing of her house.
A bench comprising Justice Ijaz Anwar and Justice Muhammad Fahim Wali heard a petition challenging a police raid on the deputy speaker’s residence and its subsequent sealing.
During the hearing, the petitioner’s counsel argued that Suraiya Bibi was the deputy speaker of the provincial assembly and had been allotted an official residence in 2024. He said governor’s rule and an emergency were imposed in the province on October 11, while her house was allegedly raided illegally and sealed on October 14.
The lawyer argued that even during governor’s rule and an emergency, the Speaker House could not be sealed. He requested the court to restrain the authorities from arresting the female petitioner and order the unsealing of her residence.
The court suspended the administration’s notification sealing Suraiya Bibi’s house and directed the authorities to unseal it. It also barred police from arresting the deputy speaker under 3-MPO.
The Peshawar High Court sought responses from the chief secretary, inspector general of police and other respondents by the next hearing.
