LAHORE, March 29: Justice Chaudhry Iftikhar Hussain of the Lahore High Court on Tuesday sought replies from federal and provincial governments on a petition seeking explanation from authorities for Raymond Davis’s release and his flight to the US despite his name being on the Exit Control List.

Federal Law Minister Babar Awan, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and Additional District and Sessions Judge Yousaf Aojla have been made party in the petition.

The petitioner asked the court to question the respondents if they were informed about Davis’s release and his departure from the Lahore airport through a special plane. He said the LHC had directed the Interior Ministry to place Davis’s name on the ECL and the court was assured by a law officer and the ministry that the order had been complied with. The petitioner said the court order was in place when Davis was released.

He said the LHC had not suspended or withdrawn the order and no application was filed on behalf of Davis for removal of his name from the ECL. He said Davis was allowed to leave Pakistan in violation of the court order and the chief minister said he was not aware of the development.

March 31 is the date of next hearing.

The petition has been filed by Javed Iqbal Jeffery.

RECORD SOUGHT: The LHC has summoned record of a trial court, which released Davis, a CIA operative.

Justice Husain issued this order on a petition challenging payment of Diyat (blood-money) allegedly by the government of Pakistan to the families of Faizan and Fahim, who were gunned down by Davis at Qartaba Chowk on Jan 27.

The court will resume hearing on April 6.