PESHAWAR, Sept 21: The Peshawar High Court on Wednesday dismissed a writ petition challenging the detention of a provincial leader of a banned organization under the Anti-Terrorism Act. A two-member bench comprising Chief Justice Tariq Pervez and Justice Qaim Jan Khan upheld the order of the NWFP home secretary about the detention of Maulana Hafeezur Rehman, provincial leader of the proscribed organization Sipah-i-Sahaba Pakistan.

The bench observed that there was enough material on record against the detainee.

The Maulana was arrested on the orders of the NWFP home secretary from Haripur in last July for a period of two months which was subsequently extended by one more month on Sept 18 under section 11 EEE of the Anti Terrorism Act dealing with preventive detention.

Advocate Khursheed Ahmad Shahan appeared for the petitioner and contended that the detainee was innocent and was falsely implicated in the case. He argued that under section 11 EEE of the ATA, there should be sufficient material on record which should prove that the detainee was a threat to public peace and tranquillity.

Mr Shahan argued that there was no complaint against the detainee from any individual. He added that the order of the chief secretary was based on mala fide.

The SHO of Haripur city police station, Shoukat Khan, appeared before the bench and produced some documents, claiming that the detainee was involved in delivering provocative speeches.

The official claimed that the detainee was prayer leader in a mosque and was delivering speeches against the government and other religions. He added that he was also provoking public against members of another sect.