Lahore High Court Quashes Detention Order Against PTI Leader Usman Farooq
LAHORE, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - September 18, 2026) : The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Friday accepted a petition challenging the detention of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Usman Farooq and set aside the detention order issued by the deputy commissioner.
Justice Farooq Haider heard a petition filed by Muhammad Farooq against the detention of his son, Usman Farooq. Advocate Malik Ahad Awan appeared for the petitioner, while Additional Advocates General Chaudhry Muhammad Nawaz and Mudassar Naveed Chattha and Assistant Advocate General Muhammad Farrukh Irfan Khan Lodhi represented the Punjab government.
During the proceedings:
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The petitioner's counsel argued that Usman Farooq had been jailed for nearly a year and re-detained after his release. He stated that his client had not been convicted in any case and was jailed only in connection with a May 9 incident, leading to several actions against him.
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It was claimed that the government lacked audio or video evidence to support the grounds for detention.
The court directed authorities to produce the relevant detention order. Both parties presented their respective orders before the court.
Justice Farooq Haider expressed skepticism about the government's position, noting inconsistencies in the cited grounds. He questioned whether any case was registered based on documents allegedly recovered from the petitioner, and emphasized that a detention order couldn't be issued solely on the basis of an earlier case.
The law officers opposed the petition, arguing that Usman Farooq had an available appellate forum but hadn't approached it. They requested the court to dismiss the petition.
Additional Advocate General Mudassar Naveed Chattha cited judicial precedents stating that a petition couldn't be filed without first exhausting the relevant forums.
Assistant Advocate General Muhammad Farrukh Irfan Khan Lodhi asserted that neither the deputy commissioner nor the district police officer had any personal enmity with Usman Farooq, and that he continued to hold organizational positions within the party. He argued that he hadn't approached the appropriate forum after his detention.
He further maintained that authorities weren't immediately required to provide grounds for detention, as the law allows 15 days for communication.