LAHORE, April 19: Lahore High Court (LHC) Justice Umar Ata Bandial allowed on Tuesday more time to the Defence Ministry to file reply on a petition by Jamatud Dawa Chief Hafiz Muhammad Saeed who seeks directions for the government to defend him before a US court which has summoned him, the ISI chief and other officials on a law suit filed by relatives of US nationals killed in Mumbai attacks.

Deputy Attorney General Nasim Kashmiri told the court that a letter had been sent to the ministry but no reply was received. Justice Bandial adjourned hearing till May 5 and asked the law officer to ensure the submission of the reply on the next hearing.

In the last hearing, the Interior Ministry had showed its inability to provide legal assistance regarding the law suit. At this, the court sought reply from the Defense Ministry.

Besides ISI and other Pakistani high officials, Hafiz Saeed has been made party in a $75,000 damages suit being heard by a US court.

The suit was filed by heirs to US nationals Rabbi Gabriel Noah Holtzberg and his wife Rivka, who were killed during Mumbai attacks, against banned Lashkar-i-Tayyaba (LeT) of Hafiz Saeed, Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, Azam Cheema and Sajid Majid as well as the ISI, its former chief Nadeem Taj and incumbent head Lt Gen Ahmed Shuja Pasha.

The plaintiffs accuse Pakistani persons and officials of providing material support for Mumbai attacks.