malik-ishaq-AP-670
In this photo taken on July 15, 2011, Malik Ishaq can be seen in Rahim Yar Khan. – Photo by AP/File

LAHORE: A local court in Lahore on Friday sent Malik Ishaq on a 14-day-long judicial remand, DawnNews reported.

The leader of the defunct Sipah-i-Sahaba Pakistan was presented before a judicial magistrate in the provincial capital.

The magistrate sent Ishaq on a two-week-long judicial remand to Kot Lakhpat prison.

He appeared in court amid tight security and was sent to the city's Kot Lakhpat jail for 14 days, senior police investigation officer Ejaz Shafi Dogar told AFP.

Earlier on Thursday, police detained Ishaq at Lahore airport on his return from Saudi Arabia.

He has been accused of fanning sectarian hatred.

Ahmed Ludhianvi, an aide to Ishaq, condemned his arrest as “unjustified” and a “violation” of his human rights.

“We will follow legal course to secure his release,” he told AFP.

Ishaq of Rahim Yar Khan was acquitted by courts in cases of sectarian killings last year. He was released from Kot Lakhpat jail on July 14, 2011, while serving 14 years of imprisonment and was also granted bail by the Supreme Court in the case relating to a terrorist attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team.

Ishaq was recently declared wanted in connection with an FIR 917/12 registered against him at the Nishtar Colony police under Section 295-A (deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs) of PPC and 3 Amplifier Act.

Ishaq had made a speech against the Shia sect in Kamahan village on Aug 9.

A police official said efforts were made to arrest him soon after he had been named in the case but he went underground and later left for Saudi Arabia.

After his acquittal last year, Ishaq reportedly visited several places in the country and made hate-filled speeches.

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