October 30, 2002	Wednesday	Sha’aban 23,1423

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LAHORE, Oct 29: The writ petition for the recovery of Jama’at al-Da’awat leader Hafiz Muhammad Saeed and setting him at liberty was withdrawn from the Lahore High Court on Tuesday.

Appearing for Mrs Maimoona Saeed, advocate Nazir Ahmed Ghazi informed Justice Chaudhry Ijaz Ahmed that the writ petition was being withdrawn following a dialogue with the government.

The government has been denying any knowledge about the whereabouts of Hafiz Saeed throughout the hearing of the writ petition. The petitioner’s counsel, however, claimed having undeniable proofs that the religious leader was being detained by the ISI. The counsel had also claimed that the ISI had arranged the meetings of Mrs Maimoona with her husband at a place where she was taken blindfolded.

During the previous hearing, the counsel sought permission of the court to implead the ISI as respondent in the case. The deputy attorney-general submitted that the ISI could not be impleaded as a party in any case.

The counsel agreed to implead the Ministry of Defence as a party in the case in the light of the answer of the DAG. Justice Ijaz adjourned the hearing of the case with a directive to the DAG to submit the answer of the ministry.

The petition was, however, withdrawn on Tuesday before the presentation of the answer of the ministry by the DAG.

Justice Ijaz allowed the withdrawal of the writ petition and disposed of the case.

WATTOO CASE: An Ehtesab Bench of the Lahore High Court on Tuesday heard Punjab’s former chief minister Mian Manzoor Wattoo’s petition for ending his disqualification in respect of taking part in politics.

Justices Tassaduq Hussain Jilani and Asif Saeed Khosa constitute the bench.

Wattoo’s counsel contended that the disqualification of his client was unlawful as the Baitul Maal reference against him had been sent in 1997 under the Ehtesab Act but an accountability court had convicted him under the NAB Act.

The NAB counsel submitted that notice had not been received in the case. The court adjourned the hearing of the case with a direction that notice be issued to the NAB.

BADAR CASE: The bail application of Pakistan People’s Party Secretary-General Jehangir Badar could not be heard because his counsel could not appear before the court.

REFERRED TO CJ: A division bench of the Lahore High Court referred to Chief Justice Iftikhar Hussain Chaudhry an application for disqualification of Iftikhar Hussain Chachhar, returned from Punjab Assembly constituency No 188, on moral grounds and for using government funds in his election campaign.

The application had been moved by Raza Ali Shah.