The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Wednesday gave 24 hours to an additional advocate general (AAG) to explain as to why a mentally-ill man was detained under MPO after being released from Bagram jail. The court issued the directives when Justice Project Pakistan's (JPP) counsel Barrister Sarah Belal informed the court that Pakistani citizen Iftikhar Ahmed was still in detention by the Punjab government at Sahiwal Jail, while other detainees of Bagram jail were repatriated and released.
On behalf of the family of the detainee, the JPP submitted an application in the court about the deteriorating condition of the mentally-ill former Bagram detainee, and lack of psychiatric treatment to him. The counsel submitted that despite being mentally-ill, Iftikhar was still detained in Central Jail Sahiwal for a period exceeding 60 days without charge or trial.
The counsel also presented before the court the report of Medical Officer of Sahiwal Jail, which provides 'irrefutable' evidence of Iftikhar's psychiatric disorder. She pleaded the court to order the detainee's immediate release so that he may be properly examined, evaluated and treated. The court after hearing the counsel at length gave 24 hours to AAG to submit a report in court explaining why Iftikhar Ahmed is still detained.