LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Monday expressed displeasure over non-appearance of the special secretary (home) in hearing of a petition against detention of Saad Rizvi, leader of proscribed Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP).

As Justice Farooq Haider resumed the hearing of the petition, a deputy secretary stated that the special secretary (home) was not available due to an important meeting.

The judge rejected the explanation and observed that the officer was supposed to appear in the court as directed.

The judge adjourned further hearing till Tuesday (today) and directed the special secretary (home) to ensure his appearance along with complete record of the case.

The petitioner contended that the provincial government with mala fide intention extended detention of Rizvi under section 11 EEE of the Anti-Terrorism Act 1997 for another 90 days.

He said the extension in the detention came after a review board of the high court judges turned down a government’s request to extend the detention of Rizvi under the Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance 1960.

He asked the court to declare the act of the government illegal and order the release of Rizvi.

The detention of Rizvi had come after his organisation (TLP) staged sit-ins across the country demanding that the government expel the ambassador of France in the wake of blasphemous cartoons. The protesters had turned violent and attacked the police personnel. The government detained him under the ATA 1997 after his 90-day detention expired on July 10 last.

Published in Dawn, September 7th, 2021