The Islamabad High Court has granted the federal government and relevant authorities one day to submit their response to a petition challenging the detention of three Chinese nationals.
Justice Shahrukh Arjumand heard the petition filed by Muhammad Nasir, coordinator of the three Chinese citizens, on Tuesday. The petitioner’s counsel, Assistant Attorney General and other officials appeared before the court.
The petitioner’s counsel told the court that the three Chinese nationals had entered Pakistan on valid business visas but were allegedly detained following a joint raid by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) and Islamabad Police at Sparco Plaza in Gulberg Greens on August 11.
The court was informed that the FIA subsequently registered cases against 258 people under the Foreigners Act, while the NCCIA registered cases against 114 individuals under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (Peca) and relevant provisions of the Pakistan Penal Code.
According to the petition, the three Chinese nationals were neither nominated as accused nor declared wanted in any of the FIRs registered following the raid.
The counsel further submitted that the Islamabad chief commissioner declared Sparco Plaza a sub-jail on August 11. Although the notification was withdrawn on August 14, the premises were again declared a sub-jail the following day.
The petition argued that detaining individuals without legal grounds, an arrest memo or a court order amounted to a violation of constitutional and fundamental rights.
The petitioner asked the court to direct authorities to produce the three Chinese nationals before the court and order their release from what he termed unlawful detention.
During the hearing, Justice Arjumand sought the government’s report on the matter. The Assistant Attorney General requested additional time to submit a detailed response.
The court granted the Ministry of Interior, FIA and other respondents one day to submit their replies and adjourned the hearing until today.
