MPO ordinance invoked to detain TLP leaders, workers in Sindh

1960 Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) law was invoked by the Sindh government to detain 156 leaders and workers of the Tehreek-e-Labaik Pakistan (TLP) for 30 days, a local news outlet reported on Sunday.

The ordinance was promulgated on December 2, 1960, by the governor of the then West Pakistan during the regime of Field Marshal Ayub Khan. Since then there are various examples of it being used and misused by the state. Reportedly, the TLP detainees were accused of being in a habit of creating adverse law and order situation which was the cause of trouble for the locals.

Most of them were arrested on Friday night for staging sit-ins in various parts of the province over the arrest of TLP chief Khadim Hussain Rizvi. On the request of police authorities, the provincial government issued orders in this effect.

Reportedly, a letter was written to Sindh Home Secretary Abdul Kabir Kazi by Sindh Inspector General of Police (IGP) Dr Syed Kaleem Imam on Saturday, requesting the issuance of detention orders under Section 3 of the MPO ordinance. The letter was written after deputy inspectors general (DIG) of Karachi’s West and East Zone and four DIGs of Hyderabad, Sukkur, Shaheed Benazirabad and Mirpurkhas had submitted their reports to the police chief, suggesting that the protesters be detained under the relevant law to avoid any untoward situation. Following this, the detention orders for 156 TLP leaders and workers were issued and many of them were arrested.

According to the detention orders, the members of TLP are in the habit of harassing the general public, instigating mobs against Supreme Court’s (SC) and challenging the writ of the state through blocking of public thoroughfares and vandalism. The detention orders also said that the protesters might create and adverse law and order situation and become a potential danger to public peace. Therefore, under Section 3 of the MPO ordinance, the workers shall be detained for 30 days from the date of their arrest, the orders added.

The detention orders further stated that the detainees would be placed under the care of the superintendent of the Central Prison in the city. The detainees, however, shall be at liberty to make a representation to the provincial government against this order, the orders added.

Reportedly, 44 out of 156 leaders and workers have been arrested under Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997, for allegedly resorting to violence near the mausoleum of Quaid-e-Azam on Friday night. Among the 44 arrested under terror charges, three were office-bearers of the TLP in the province.