Petition in Federal Constitutional Court Seeks Release of Afridi, Swati, Junaid Akbar

Islamabad: A constitutional petition has been filed in the Federal Constitutional Court seeking the release of Sohail Afridi, Babar Saleem Swati and National Assembly member Junaid Akbar Khan.

The petition was filed by National Assembly member Shandana Gulzar under sub-article 3 of Article 175E of the Constitution. It names the Ministry of Interior, the Chief Secretary of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the Inspector General of Police, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, as respondents.

The petition raises important questions about the constitutional limits of powers under Articles 232, 234 and 245. The petitioner contends that none of these constitutional provisions authorises the unlawful detention of any person.

The petitioner asks the court to order that the three leaders be produced before it, and to direct the relevant authorities to disclose immediately their current location and the grounds for their detention.

It further requests that the three leaders be guaranteed access to their lawyers and families, medical facilities, and protection from torture.

The petitioner argues that the action, carried out for political purposes, amounts to an abuse of power and a violation of fundamental rights. The court is therefore asked to take notice of the matter and bind the relevant authorities to act in accordance with the law.