The petition challenging the detention of Iqbal Qureshi, joint secretary Mohajir Qaumi Movement under MPO was dismissed by a bench of the Sindh High Court on Friday.

The bench comprising Justice S Ahmed Sarwana and Justice Zia Pervez disposed of the petition as infructuous after the statement of Additional Advocate General Sindh Suleman Habibullah that the orders for detention of Iqbal Qureshi under MPO had been withdrawn and he was now under custody in a case under the Arms Ordinance. The petition was filed by Arshad Tarique Advocate on behalf of Samina Iqbal, wife of Iqbal Qureshi.

Iqbal Qureshi had been taken into custody by law enforcing agencies on December 8 last year. His arrest was challenged through a habeas corpus petition before the district and session judge East, whereupon the police showed him arrested in a murder case bearing FIR number 181/2002 of PS Landhi.

On December 14, 2002 he was released in the said case under Section 169 CrPC. On December 18, however, he was again arrested and detained under MPO.

Later, he was shown arrested in another caseand was granted bail in the case by additional district and session judge Malir on April 15, 2003. He was to be released that day from district jail Landhi but he was remanded in the custody of Korangi police.

Additional Advocate General Suleman Habibullah told the court that orders for the detention of Iqbal Qureshi were withdrawn on July 15 but he was arrested by SHO Malir City in a case under Arms Ordinance. He submitted that the said petition was directed against Iqbal Qureshi's detention under MPO which was no longer alive after withdrawal of the detention orders