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LHC Contempt Pleas: Notices Issued Over UAE Detainees | META: The Lahore High Court issued notices to the foreign secretary in two LHC contempt pleas over Pakistanis detained in the UAE for nearly two years. | IMG: hourly-1332-lhc-uae-contempt-pleas.webp | CREDIT: Dawn –>
The Lahore High Court on Thursday issued notices to Foreign Secretary Asim Iftikhar in two LHC contempt pleas over alleged non-compliance with an earlier court order concerning two PTI-affiliated Pakistani citizens detained in the United Arab Emirates.
The case centres on a September 14 directive in which the court had ordered the foreign secretary to process and decide, within 15 days, representations about the detention of Syed Salman Raza Zaidi and Muhammad Junaid Jahangir. The petitioners say that never happened.
LHC contempt pleas: two years without consular access, counsel says
Justice Sadiq Mehmood Khurram heard the petitions on Thursday. Barrister Abuzar Salman Niazi, appearing for the petitioners, alleged that both men remain deprived of consular, diplomatic and legal access. He contended that the petitioners were never formally informed of any decision on their representations, even though considerable time had passed since the September 14 order.
The counsel urged the court to initiate contempt proceedings against the foreign secretary for non-compliance. After hearing initial arguments, Justice Khurram issued notices to the secretary, directing him to submit his reply by October 29.
The details laid before the court describe two separate detentions. Zaidi went missing from his residence in Sharjah on September 27, 2024, and was subsequently taken into custody by UAE authorities. His wife, Faryal Zainab, told the court through her counsel that nearly two years on, she still has no clear information about the charges against her husband, the judicial proceedings, any sentence, or the complete court record.
Jahangir was allegedly detained on September 24, 2024, at Dubai airport on his return from Saudi Arabia. His father, Muhammad Ibrahim, filed the petition challenging what he called the failure of the federal government and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to provide effective consular protection and legal assistance.
Both petitioners have asked the court to direct that legal and consular assistance be provided to the two men, that their judicial records be obtained, and that diplomatic-level steps be taken toward their return to Pakistan.
Why this case matters
Consular access is one of the most basic protections a state owes its citizens abroad. When a Pakistani is detained in a foreign country, the embassy is supposed to be informed, allowed to visit, and able to arrange legal help. The petitioners’ claim is that none of that happened here for nearly two years, which is why they turned to the courts.
The case also lands at a moment when the LHC is actively hearing several politically sensitive detention matters. Earlier this week, the court summoned the Punjab home secretary and the Kot Lakhpat jail superintendent in a plea seeking the release of Imran Khan’s sisters. The pattern suggests the judiciary is keeping a close eye on how detention and custody cases are handled, whether at home or abroad.
What happens on October 29 will matter. If the foreign secretary’s reply satisfies the court, the matter may move toward the substantive question of repatriation. If it does not, contempt proceedings against a serving foreign secretary would be an unusual and serious escalation. For the families, who have waited since September 2024, either outcome would at least break a two-year silence.
Frequently asked questions
What are the LHC contempt pleas about?
Two petitions allege the foreign secretary failed to comply with a September 14 LHC order to decide, within 15 days, representations about two Pakistanis detained in the UAE.
Who are the two detained Pakistanis?
Syed Salman Raza Zaidi, missing from his Sharjah residence since September 27, 2024, and Muhammad Junaid Jahangir, detained at Dubai airport on September 24, 2024. Both are described as PTI-affiliated.
What did the court order on Thursday?
Justice Sadiq Mehmood Khurram issued notices to Foreign Secretary Asim Iftikhar and directed him to submit his reply by October 29.
What are the petitioners asking for?
Legal and consular assistance for both men, retrieval of their judicial records, and diplomatic-level steps toward their repatriation to Pakistan.
