The Punjab Government on Monday issued a notification to extend the house arrest of Jamaatud Dawa (JuD) chief Hafiz Mohammad Saeed for two more months.
The JuD chief had been placed under house arrest on January 31 for 90 days. Subsequently, his house arrest was extended for another three months. The extended house arrest was going to expire on July 27, but has now been extended for two more months.
The notification, a copy of which is available with DawnNews, reads that the Counter Terrorism Department has reported that "keeping in view the expected release of the said activist and other leaders of the said organisation, workers of the organisation have planned to spread chaos in the country."
The notification, signed by Punjab Additional Chief Secretary (Home) retired Major Azam Suleman, further reads that "on release, he (Saeed) is likely to glorify his activities for the said organisation and continuation of his activities are likely to create unrest in public."
Other members of the JuD — including Abdullah Ubaid, Abdul Rehman Abid, Zafar Iqbal and Qazi Kashif Niazi of Multan, who handles JuD’s publications — were also taken into 'protective custody' in January.
The JuD and the Falah-i-Insaaniat Foundation (FIF), a charity organisation affiliated with the JuD, had been included in the Second Schedule and were placed on the government’s watch list for six months under Section (1) 11EEE of the Anti-Terrorism Act 1997 in January. The names of several JuD leaders had also been placed on the Exit Control List.
