The Sindh High Court (SHC) has suspended government notifications issued under section 3 of the Maintenance of Public Order (3MPO) while ordering the immediate release of at least 34 people being held at various jails across Sindh. Most of them are said to be PTI workers or protesters.

The detainees were sent to Sanghar, Mirpur Khas, Jacobabad, Sukkur, and Shaheed Benazirabad jails following their arrest in major urban centers.

The court said they must be set free if they are not wanted in any other cases.

The court also ordered the detainees to submit an Rs10,000 surety bond each.

Most of these people were arrested or detained after violent protests erupted in different cities of the province following Imran Khan’s May 9 arrest.

Protesters across the country blocked roads, demanding Khan’s immediate release. In some instances, government and military installations were attacked and burned.

Following the violence that continued for two days, the authorities nabbed hundreds of workers of the former ruling party and started registering cases against them.

During the proceedings on Thursday, SHC Chief Justice Ahmed Ali M Shaikh also directed the authorities to transfer the other suspects arrested for violence back to Karachi Jail.

In its decision, the SHC ordered that the suspects whose release has been ordered by the court can apply for pre-arrest bail before the relevant courts.

The court directed the authorities to transfer a female prisoner, held at Sukkur Jail, to Karachi, on which the Sindh additional attorney general informed the court that the said woman’s detention notification had been withdrawn.

Sindh AAG and Sindh Home Department sought time from the court for a written reply. The SHC adjourned the hearings till the end of the summer vacation.