LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Wednesday extended stay against possible arrest of Jamatud Dawa chief Hafiz Saeed as law officers of the federal and provincial governments sought time to file their replies.

Mr Saeed had filed a petition fearing his arrest allegedly at the behest of the United States and India.

His counsel Advocate A.K. Dogar had contended that a delegation of the United Nations visited the country in January last and the government intended to take adverse action against the petitioner.

He said the petitioner was founder/chairman of JuD and Falah-i-Insaniat Foundation (FIF) and also established 142 schools, three universities and for the last many years had been engaged in activities of public welfare.

He stated that the Punjab government had recently detained the petitioner under the Maintenance of Public Order for 90 days, however, a review board comprising judges of the high court denied an application of the government to further extend period of his house arrest as it failed to justify the detention before the board.

He alleged that all the actions taken by the government against the petitioner had been on the pressure of the US and Indian lobby who for the last many years had been harbouring an unfounded assumption that Hafiz Saeed was somehow involved in Mumbai attacks.

He asked the court to restrain the government from taking any illegal action against the JuD leader.

Justice Aminuddin Khan had on Jan 24 restrained the Ministry of Interior and the Punjab home department from taking any illegal action against the petitioner. The judge would resume hearing on April 4.

Published in Dawn, March 8th, 2018