LAHORE, July 17: The Lahore High Court asked the Punjab home secretary on Wednesday to decide the banned Sipah-i-Sahaba leader Azam Tariq’s plea against his continued detention within 25 days, failing which he would be deemed to have been granted bail against two bonds of Rs500,000 each.

Justice Chaudhry Ijaz Ahmad, who heard the detenu’s writ petition, ordered that it be converted into a representation addressed to the home secretary and sent to the latter for consideration and disposal in accordance with the law by August 12.

The detenu had submitted that he was being detained in the Mianwali Jail over and above the maximum period allowed by the law for preventive detention without lawful authority and reasonable grounds. No treatment was being provided to him for his ailment, he alleged.

The judge directed the Punjab health secretary to constitute a board of doctors to examine the detenu. He should be admitted to hospital if the board recommends hospitalization. Treatment should be provided to him within the jail in the meanwhile.