The Peshawar High Court restrained police from arresting Suraiya Bibi under the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) Ordinance. Justice Ijaz Anwar and Justice Muhammad Fahim Wali heard the writ petition in a two-member bench.
The court suspended the administration's notification that sealed the official residence of the Pakhtunkhwa Assembly Deputy Speaker. Authorities were directed to provisionally de-seal the residence of Suraiya Bibi.
Police raided the premises at midnight on 14 October and locked the house. Suraiya Bibi received the allotment of the official residence at Race Course Garden, Peshawar, through a notification on 3 June 2024.
The federal government imposed emergency and governor’s rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on 11 October. The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly has remained non-functional since the imposition of governor’s rule and emergency on 11 October.
KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, KP Assembly Speaker Babar Saleem Swati and other PTI leaders have been taken into preventive custody. A case was registered against Suraiya Bibi for allegedly refusing to return an official vehicle.
The court issued notices to the chief secretary, inspector general of police and other relevant authorities to submit replies by the next date of hearing. Advocate Yasir Khattak stated, "The petitioner holds a constitutional office and is entitled to perform her official functions without unlawful interference, discrimination or arbitrary executive action."
