LAHORE: Gullu Butt, the infamous character of the June 17 Model Town incident, was released from the Camp Jail on Friday evening after the Lahore High Court declared his detention illegal.

Justice Muhammad Qasim Khan passed the order on the petition of Butt and directed the Punjab government to free him.

The jail authorities managed exit of Butt through ‘VIP gate’ as a large number of people were already gathered outside the prison on Ferozepur Road. The people chanted slogans against Gullu Butt and condemned his criminal act he had committed outside the Minhajul Quran Secretariat.

Butt had to trot to avoid chasing media persons and charged-up citizens outside the jail. His relatives escorted him to a private car and drove him away.

Butt was involved in smashing private vehicles parked outside the Minhajul Quran Secretariat in Model Town during an operation carried out by the Punjab government against alleged illegal barricades erected by the PAT.

Earlier, his counsel argued that a division bench of the LHC had released his client on bail but the government detained him again. He said the government declared Butt a member of a terrorist group and further extended his detention without producing any tangible evidence against him. He asked the court to set aside the detention for being illegal.

A law officer submitted reply on behalf of the home secretary and said Butt was a threat to law and order situation in the province. He said the suspect was detained fearing any illegal activity by him.

Justice Qasim asked the officer about action taken against the policemen who let Gullu Butt damage the vehicles. The law officer said a case had been registered against the cops followed by departmental action.

After hearing both sides, the judge set aside the detention of Butt and directed the government to free him.

Published in Dawn, September 27th , 2014