A division bench of the SHC comprised of Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar and Justice Faisal Agha ordered the parties to submit their replies by March 6, 2019 in a petition, filed by Public Interest Law Association through Abdul Moeez Jafari Advocate challenging the manufacturing and sale of detectors by ASF.
The petition stated that the British government had banned the export of the ADE- 651. However, the ASF took over the making and selling of these magic wands at the cost of Rs 70,000 per device in 2009.
These wands are sold under the name and style of "Khoji" (finder) which are then used by security personnel to protect airports and government installations, and have also been widely sold to the private sector and deployed at malls, hotels and fast-food chains all over Sindh, the petition stated.
It stated that the device claims an accuracy level of 90 per cent, according to a copy of its user manual. Furthermore, the manual boosts that "Khoji" is the first device of its kind that can detect explosives from distances of up to 100 metres (330 feet), even when the explosive is hidden behind walls or metal barriers such as buildings or vehicles.
The petitioner prayed that in order to protect the lives and liberties of the innocent citizens of Pakistan, the court restrain ASF CAA from licensing, manufacturing and using the "Khoji"/fake bomb detectors modelled on the ADE 651.
The petitioner also pleaded the court to declare the use and manufacturing of "Khoji"/fake bomb detectors modelled on the ADE 651 as illegal and violation of the fundamental right.
The petitioner also prayed the court to restrain Federal Interior Ministry from issuing new contracts in relation to the manufacturing and licensing of the "Khoji"/fake bomb detectors modelled on the ADE 651.