In a major relief for the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI), the Sindh High Court (SHC) disposed of more than 100 petitions on Tuesday, February 10, 2026, leading to the immediate release of hundreds of party activists.
The provincial government, under intense judicial pressure, withdrew all detention orders issued under the controversial Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) Ordinance between February 1 and February 9.
The Legal Showdown at SHC
A two-judge constitutional bench, headed by Justice Muhammad Saleem Jessar, presided over the hearing. The court’s firm stance forced the provincial administration to retreat.
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Judicial Warning: The bench expressed strong dissatisfaction when the Additional Advocate General asked for more time. Justice Jessar warned that if the detention orders weren’t withdrawn immediately, the court would take direct action against the responsible officials.
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The “MPO Notification” Withdrawal: Following the warning, a provincial law officer presented a notification from the Home Department dated Feb 10, formally withdrawing the preventive detention orders for all workers.
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Release Directive: The court directed jail authorities to release the detainees “forthwith,” provided they were not wanted in any other criminal cases.
The Release: Numbers and Locations
By late Tuesday evening, families gathered outside major prisons to welcome the released workers.
| Metric | Details |
| Total Released | PTI claims nearly 500 workers were freed; official estimates suggest around 300. |
| Major Prisons | Karachi Central Prison and District Jail Malir. |
| Detention Period | Most workers were picked up in night-long raids starting Feb 1, ahead of the party’s protest calls. |
Claims of “Barbarity” and Illegal Raids
The PTI legal team, led by Barrister Ali Tahir, argued that the detentions were a tool for political victimization.
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Illegal Raids: The defense informed the court that over 187 families were affected by raids conducted without warrants, alleging that even minors and elderly citizens were harassed.
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Cabinet Oversight: At a previous hearing, the court had demanded the government prove that these MPO orders were backed by a formal Sindh Cabinet decision, as required by law. The government’s inability to provide this record contributed to their decision to withdraw the orders.
From 1977 to 2008, universities and colleges in Sindh were handed over to Jamaat e Islami and MQM thugs and goons. PPP tripled universities in its 17 years, PMLN increased Punjab’s borrowing for vanity projects and PTI tripled unemployment in KP during this time.
Guess who… https://t.co/0TCzz8mlND— Ismail Effendi (@EffendiNews) February 11, 2026
The Political Aftermath
PTI Sindh President Haleem Adil Sheikh hailed the decision as a victory for the rule of law, calling the detentions “unconstitutional and fake.” While the workers are now free, the party maintains that senior leaders, including Karachi President Raja Azhar, remain under close legal scrutiny.
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