JuD leaders detained as per law, court told

LAHORE

The ministry of interior on Thursday told the Lahore High Court that no violation of law was made in issuance of the detention orders against Jamatud Dawa (JuD) chief Hafiz Muhammad Saeed and his aides. 

In a written reply submitted to the court, the ministry defended the detention of the JuD leaders saying the orders were issued under section 11EE of Anti-Terrorism Act 1997, which deals with the proscription of person.

The reply said the ministry issued the impugned notification in exercise of the powers conferred by sub section (1) of section 11D of the ATA, 1997 and placed JuD and Falah-i-Insaniat Foundation (FIF) in second schedule of the Act.

It said the JuD and FIF had been kept under observation on the basis of a report sent by the ministry of foreign affairs. In light of that report, the federal government had reasons to believe that JuD and FIF were engaged in certain activities which could be prejudicial to peace and security and in violation of Pakistan’s obligation to the United Nations Security Council resolution.

The ministry urged the court to dismiss the petition of JuD chief Hafiz Saeed and his aides challenging their detention.

A division bench headed by Justice Sadaqat Ali Khan examined the report and adjourned hearing of the petition for April 27. Hafiz Saeed, Prof Malik Zafar Iqbal, Abdur Rehman Abid, Qazi Kashif Hussain and Abdullah Ubaid had challenged their detention through Advocate A.K Dogar. 

The lawyer argued that the government detained the JuD leaders without any justification. He said the UN resolution followed by the government did not seek detention of any citizen.

He said the detention of the JuD leaders was a simple case of mala fide intention and ulterior motive on part of the government. He alleged that the government detained the petitioners to please India and US.