LHC rejects govt request to extend Hafiz Saeed’s detention

LAHORE: A provincial review board comprising three judges of the Lahore High Court on Wednesday turned down a request of Punjab government and annulled the detention of Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) chief Hafiz Muhammad Saeed. The board led by Justice Abdul Sami Khan directed the government to set Saeed free on expiry of his 30-day detention, if he was not required in any other case. The government had moved an application to the board, seeking three-month extension in the detention of Saeed as his current detention period was going to expire on Thursday (today). As in-camera proceedings started, officials from finance ministry and Punjab home department presented documentary record before the board to support the detention orders. However, they were unable to give satisfactory answers to the question asked by the board members pertaining to alleged involvement of Saeed in anti-state activities.
The members of review board asked the government officials to furnish, if any, incriminating material against the JuD leader to substantiate their stand that he was involvement in any illegal or anti-state activity. The finance ministry's official went on to say that Pakistan could face international sanctions if Saeed was released. A government's law officer told the board that detention was also helpful to him as his life in under serious threats.
However, the board remained unsatisfied with the government's point of view and set aside the detention of Saeed and ordered his release. Justice Sadaqat Ali Khan and Justice Aalia Neelum were the other two members of the board. The government produced the JuD chief before the board amid strict security arrangements. Previously, the review board had extended detention of Saeed for another 30-day starting from October 25.
Initially, the provincial government had in January this year detained him for a period of 90 days in exercise of powers under Section 11-EEE (1) of Anti Terrorism Act 1997. Later the government kept extending detention period on its own under Maintenance of Public Order till an approval obtained from the review board last month.