PESHAWAR, March 17: The NWFP government on Sunday withdrew the detention order of Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (F) chief, Maulana Fazlur Rehman issued last month under the Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance.

An order was issued by the Secretary Home and Tribal Affairs Department under section 3 (1) of the MPO. Maulana Rehman has been in detention, in one form or another, since October 8, 2001. He was placed under detention in the wake of US attack on Afghanistan.

After the issuance of the fresh order by the government, the JUI (F) also called off its scheduled protest demonstration of March 22 against the continuous detention of Maulana Rehman. “After the withdrawal of the detention order...the purpose for staging the scheduled demonstration was achieved. Therefore we decided not to hold any demo,” Abdul Jalil Jan, secretary information of the party said.

From time to time, either the provincial government or the district Nazim, D.I. Khan modified their earlier orders under the MPO.

His last detention order was issued on Feb 21 by the Secretary Home through which Maulana Rehman was detained in Chashma Irrigation Resthouse, D.I. Khan for a period of thirty days.

One of the ground for his detention was that he would indulge in activities prejudicial to public safety and maintenance of good order in the NWFP.

It was claimed that in view of the tension prevailing on account of recent attack on Afghanistan by the US and coalition forces his prejudicial activities would exacerbate the situation leading to further worsening of law and order in the NWFP.