LAHORE: A provincial review board comprising judges of the Lahore High Court on Thursday approved one-month extension in detention of Jamatud Dawa’s chief Hafiz Muhammad Saeed but turned down a government request for extending detention of four other leaders of the organisation.

The police presented Saeed and his aides Qazi Kashif Niaz, Prof Zafar Iqbal, Abdul Rehman Abid and Abdullah Ubaid before the board amid strict security. Senior officials from ministries of interior and foreign affairs along with government’s law officers also appeared and assisted the board’s members during in-camera proceedings. The board comprises Justice Muhammad Yawar Ali, Justice Abdul Sami Khan and Justice Alia Neelum.

After hearing the government authorities and lawyers, the board approved extension in the detention period of Hafiz Saeed for one month but refused to extend detention of other four JuD leaders. They would stand freed on Oct 26 when their detention period expires.

The Punjab government had detained the JuD leaders under the Maintenance of Pubic Order as recommended by the federal government.

Meanwhile, a single bench of the LHC adjourned hearing of the petition of the JuD leaders challenging their detention as a law officer of the federal government sought time for the appearance of the Attorney General of Pakistan.

He told the court that AG Ashtar Ausaf was out of country so the hearing should be deferred till his return and appearance before the court. Justice Syed Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi accepted the request and put off hearing till Oct 24.

Published in Dawn, October 20th, 2017