November 20, 2002	Wednesday	Ramazan 14, 1423

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LAHORE, Nov 19: The chief of Da’awa al Irshad, Hafiz Muhammad Saeed, was set at liberty on Tuesday on the direction of the Lahore High Court.

Justice Chaudhry Ejaz Ahmad had on Monday declared the detention of Hafiz Saeed without lawful authority and directed to release him forthwith, if he was not required in any case.

Hafiz Saeed had been under house arrest since Oct 30 when he was brought home reportedly by the personnel of an intelligence agency after several months’ disappearance.

“The police deployed outside the house was withdrawn at 3:30pm on Tuesday,” the man who attended phone at Hafiz Saeed’s Johar Town residence told Dawn. He introduced himself as a follower of the Da’awa chief. He said Hafiz Saeed was not around.

Meanwhile, Da’awa spokesman Yahya Mujahid said the orders of the Punjab government in this regard was handed over to the police at 1pm. The police consulted their high-ups and left the place at around 3:30pm, he added.

However, the city police claimed they left the place late on Monday night. “We removed the police after our officials conveyed the LHC directions in this regard,” Model Town division police SP Capt Syed Mubin Ahmad (retired) said. “He is no more in detention,” he claimed late on Monday night.