PESHAWAR, Jan 4: The NWFP government has further extended by thirty days the detention of Jamaat-i-Islami chief Qazi Hussain Ahmad in Tanda Dam Rest House, Kohat, on Friday.

Secretary Home and Tribal Affairs Department Javed Iqbal, in his order issued under section 3(1) of the Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance, has cited a recent article of Qazi Hussain Ahmad published in an English daily, and tensions between India and Pakistan as major grounds for extending his detention period.

Mr Ahmad was initially placed under house arrest through an order issued on Nov 3, 2001. Two days later, another order was issued by the provincial government whereby he was detained in Tanda Dam Rest House with effect from Nov 6 for a period of one month. His detention period was extended by one month in December last year. Now, as that period is to expire on Jan 5, the provincial government has issued fresh orders.

The district police Peshawar recommended detaining Qazi Hussain Ahmad for a further period of thirty days as it considered the circumstances still existed for doing so, the home secretary claimed.

One of the grounds of detention given by the secretary home is: “The detenue himself through an article in English Daily The News, published on Dec 31, 2001, has levelled false allegations on the present government to the effect that it is seeking the help of US Government in the worst bloodshed in Afghanistan. And his party leaders in various political gatherings bitterly criticised the government for its policies vis-a-vis present Afghan crisis and joining the International Coalition against terrorism. These reports clearly show that the party leaders/activists are following the line of action given by the Ameer of the party i.e. the detenu.”

There is great tension due to war threats posed on account of movement of troops and military equipment by India along the eastern border of Pakistan and the Line of Control with Azad Jammu and Kashmir, aggravating the situation further, and provocative speeches of the detenu will harm national solidarity in the existing delicate situation, the order states.

It may be mentioned that the JI had challenged his detention in the Peshawar High Court, but his petition was dismissed and his detention declared legal by the court. Now, his appeal against the PHC verdict is pending before the Supreme Court and will be taken up for hearing after the winter vacations.

Few days ago, the provincial government also extended the detention period of JUI’s Maulana Fazlur Rehman.