LHC extends stay against likely arrest of Hafiz Saeed

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court Wednesday extended a stay against possible arrest of Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) chief Hafiz Muhammad Saeed as law officers of federal and provincial governments sought time to file their replies.

Saeed had filed a petition fearing his arrest allegedly at the behest of the US and India. His counsel AK Dogar had contended that a delegation of United Nations visited the country in January last and the government intended to take adverse action against the petitioner. He said the petitioner was founder/chairman of JuD and Falah-i-Insaniat Foundation (FIF) and also established 142 schools, three universities and for the last many years engaged in activities of public welfare. He said the Punjab government had recently detained the petitioner under Maintenance of Public Order for 90 days, however, a review board comprising judges of the high court denied an application of the government to further extend period of his house arrest as it failed to justify the detention before the board.

He alleged that all the actions taken by the government against the petitioner had been on the pressure of the US and Indian lobby which for the last many years have been harbouring an unfounded assumption that Hafiz Saeed was somehow involved in Mumbai attacks. He asked the court to restrain the government from taking any illegal action against the JuD leader.

The counsel further sought court’s direction for the government to not take any adverse action including arresting petitioner on alleged pressure from abroad.

Justice Aminuddin Khan on January 24 restrained the interior ministry and Punjab home department from taking any illegal action against the petitioner. The judge would resume hearing on April 4.