The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Friday set aside an order issued by the deputy commissioner to detain Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Usman Farooq.
According to the 24NewsHD TV channel, Justice Farooq Haider heard petitions filed by Muhammad Farooq, who had challenged the detention order issued against his son, Usman Farooq.
The hearing took place after the Punjab government’s law officers failed to satisfy the court over the grounds for the detention. Advocate General Punjab Barrister Zafarullah Khan, who had been directed to appear, did not attend the hearing.
Additional Advocate General Punjab Chaudhry Muhammad Nawaz and Mudassar Naveed Chattha appeared for the provincial government, while Assistant Advocate General Muhammad Farrukh Irfan Khan Lodhi also represented the government. Advocate Malik Ahad Awan appeared for the petitioner.
During the hearing, Malik Ahad Awan argued that the court had set aside a similar detention order on January 26, 2026. He said Usman Farooq had spent a year in prison and was detained again after his release, despite not having been convicted in any case.
The lawyer said his client had been imprisoned in connection with a May 9 riots case, after which proceedings against him continued. He further argued that the authorities had no audio or video evidence to support their allegations.
The petitioner’s lawyer read the detention order before the court.
Justice Farooq Haider questioned the government’s law officer, saying that a detention order could not be issued simply on the basis of an earlier case. He said detention could be ordered, but effective documentary evidence was required, and asked the government lawyer to produce even one such document.
Additional Advocate General Nawaz argued that the petitioner had an available appeal forum but had not approached the government through that channel. He referred to several decisions which, he said, held that a petition could not be filed without first approaching the relevant forum.
Assistant Advocate General Farrukh said the deputy commissioner and district police officer did not know the detained man personally and had no personal hostility towards him. He also argued that the authority was not required to disclose the reasons for detention immediately and had 15 days to provide them.
Justice Farooq Haider then asked the station house officer (SHO) whether any case was currently registered against Usman Farooq and whether there was any audio or video evidence showing him planning activities with others.
The SHO told the court that no case was currently registered against the detained man and that there was no such audio or video evidence.
After hearing arguments from both sides, the Lahore High Court allowed the petition challenging the detention and set aside the detention order issued against Usman Farooq.
Reporter: Malik Ashraf