The Aporia · LHC issues notices to foreign secretary in contempt pleas over PTI-linked Pakistanis detained in UAE

On Thursday, the Lahore High Court issued notices to Foreign Secretary Asim Iftikhar for alleged contempt of court regarding two PTI-linked Pakistani citizens detained in the UAE since September 2024. The court had previously ordered the foreign secretary to process representations within 15 days but received no formal response, prompting petitioners' counsel Barrister Abuzar Salman Niazi to argue that legal and consular access was denied. The petitions seek immediate assistance for Syed Salman Raza Zaidi and Muhammad Junaid Jahangir, including securing their judicial records and facilitating their return to Pakistan.

Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-22, using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the same event (that is the story summary below).

Story summary

As of October 22, 2026, The Lahore High Court (LHC) issued notices to Foreign Secretary Asim Iftikhar in two separate contempt petitions over alleged non-compliance with an earlier order related to PTI-affiliated Pakistani citizens detained in the UAE. On September 14, the LHC had instructed the foreign secretary to process and decide within 15 days representations concerning the detention of Syed Salman Raza Zaidi and Muhammad Junaid Jahangir. During a hearing on October 22, counsel for the petitioners alleged that these individuals were denied consular, diplomatic, and legal access despite the court's previous directive. The judge issued notices to Asim Iftikhar for submission of his reply by October 29. This development highlights ongoing tensions between judicial oversight and executive action in Pakistan regarding citizens' rights abroad.

Written for “LHC Contempt Notices For Foreign Secretary” on 2026-10-22, grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.

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📰 LHC Contempt Notices For Foreign Secretary

Politics · 1 article(s) covering the same event.

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Dawn · 2049 article(s) · 3 correction(s) detected

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🔮 The judge, however, observed that the official could not be summoned as he had not been made a party to the petition.

2026-10-22 · assertive framing · LHC summons Punjab home secretary, Kot Lakhpat jail superintendent in plea seeking release of Imran’s sisters

🔮 The tribunal said a detailed judgment would be issued separately.

2026-10-20 · mixed framing · Defamation tribunal orders Punjab Assembly opposition leader to pay Rs3m to Azma Bokhari

🔮 An anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Thursday extended the physical remand of PTI leader Hammad Azhar by 12 days in the Jinnah House attack case related to the May 9 riots.

2026-10-15 · mixed framing · Lahore ATC extends physical remand of PTI's Hammad Azhar

🔮 The counsel further requested the court to summon the Lahore Capital City Police Officer and the deputy commissioner in person, arguing that their appearance would help clarify the circumstances surrounding the detention notifications.

2026-10-12 · assertive framing · LHC directs jail authorities to provide heart medication to Imran's sister Uzma

🔮 Justice Khan asked the counsel to specify the items required, observing that only items ordered by the court would be allowed into the jail.

2026-10-09 · assertive framing · LHC seeks report on provision of medicines, clothes to Imran's detained sisters

🔮 “I had a plan to visit Skardu, but I could not go there because I was alone,” she said.

2026-10-05 · mixed framing · Lahore police granted further four-day physical remand of 2 suspects in Azeri woman rape case

🔮 “I had a plan to visit Skardu, but I could not go there because I was alone,” she said.

2026-10-05 · mixed framing · Lahore court extends pre-arrest bail of female suspect in Azeri woman rape case

🔮 “I had a plan to visit Skardu, but I could not go there because I was alone,” she said.

2026-10-05 · mixed framing · Court extends interim pre-arrest bail of a female suspect in Azeri woman rape case

🔮 The investigating officer told the magistrate that as further custody of the suspect was not required for investigation, she could be sent to jail on judicial remand.

2026-10-03 · mixed framing · Lahore magistrate sends female suspect to jail on judicial remand in Azeri woman's rape case

🔮 A prosecutor informed the court that it would be her first physical remand and argued that being a woman, she could be kept in jail during her physical remand. A counsel for the suspect, however, contended that her relationship with the complainant was limited to friendship.

2026-09-30 · mixed framing · Lahore police granted 3-day physical remand of woman in connection with Azeri national's rape case

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The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Thursday issued notices to Foreign Secretary Asim Iftikhar in two separate contempt petitions over alleged non-compliance with an earlier order in a matter related to two PTI-affiliated Pakistani citizens detained in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). asserted

Court → issue → Emirates

On September 14, the LHC had directed the foreign secretary to process and decide within 15 days representations concerning the detention of two citizens — Syed Salman Raza Zaidi and Muhammad Junaid Jahangir. asserted

LHC → direct → citizens

Justice Sadiq Mehmood Khurram heard the contempt petitions on Thursday. asserted

Khurram → hear → Thursday

Barrister Abuzar Salman Niazi appeared on behalf of the petitioners and alleged that the two individuals remained deprived of consular, diplomatic, and legal access. asserted

individuals → appear → access

He recalled the court’s Sept 14 directive and contended that the petitioners had not been formally informed of any decision on their representations, even though a considerable amount of time had passed. asserted

amount → recall → time

The counsel urged the court to initiate contempt proceedings against the foreign secretary for non-compliance. asserted

counsel → urge → compliance

After hearing initial arguments, Justice Khurram issued notices to the respondent secretary for submission of his reply by October 29. asserted

Khurram → hear → October

In the main petitions, the counsel stated that Zaidi went missing from his residence in Sharjah on Sept 27, 2024, and was subsequently taken into custody by UAE authorities. asserted

Zaidi → state → authorities

He said despite nearly two years having passed, the petitioner, Faryal Zainab, had still not been provided clear information regarding the charges against her husband Zaidi, the judicial proceedings, any sentence, or the complete court record. asserted

petitioner → say → husband

Meanwhile, Advocate Niazi said Jahangir was allegedly detained on Sept 24, 2024, at Dubai airport on his return from Saudi Arabia. uncertain

Jahangir → say → Arabia

Muhammad Ibrahim, Jahangir’s father, filed the petition challenging the alleged failure of the federal government and the Foreign Office to provide effective consular protection and legal assistance. asserted

Ibrahim → file → protection

The counsel for the petitioners submitted that despite representations having been filed regarding the detention of both citizens before the foreign secretary, the representations had not been processed. asserted

representations → submit → secretary

Both petitioners had asked the court to direct that legal and consular assistance be provided to Zaidi and Jahangir, that their judicial records be obtained and that diplomatic-level steps be taken toward their return to Pakistan. asserted

steps → ask → Pakistan

LHC issues notices to foreign secretary in contempt pleas over PTI-linked Pakistanis detained in UAE

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