ISLAMABAD, Feb 14: The Supreme Court on Monday directed the government to submit comments on over-detention of a Palestinian involved in the hijacking of a Pan Am airliner.

A division bench comprising Justice Javed Iqbal and Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar issued notice to the federal government with a direction to submit reply within 15 days in a habeas corpus petition filed by Jamal Saeed Abdul Rahim, alias Fahad Ali, a Palestinian national. He was arrested by the FIA on September 5, 1986 for his involvement in the hijacking of the airliner.

Deputy Attorney General Nasir Saeed Shaikh, while justifying the post-term detention the hijacker, said no country was accepting the convict and even his nationality was doubtful.

Fahad was tried and convicted by a special court in Adiala Jail. The court awarded him capital sentence and also imposed a Rs610,000 fine on him. However, in 1988, the death sentence was converted into life imprisonment through a presidential order.

He completed his jail term after remission on June 11, 2001. Still, he was kept imprisoned under the directions of the Ministry of Interior. Later, a Federal Review Board also extended his post-term detention in jail.