LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Thursday directed the federal and provincial governments to submit their replies by April 8 on a petition regarding the release and departure of CIA contractor Raymond Davis, DawnNews reported.

The petition, filed by Barrister Javed Iqbal Jaffery, requested the court to seek explanation from Federal Law Minister Babar Awan, Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, AD&SJ Mohammad Yousuf Aujla and others as to why they facilitated Davis in his acquittal and emergent departure despite the fact that his name was placed on the Exit Control List (ECL).

During the hearing, the federation's lawyer requested the court for a period of three weeks to submit the government's reply.

The court subsequently adjourned the hearing to April 8.

The petition had been filed on a pending matter relating to Davis’s release and the petitioner had asked the court to obtain affidavits from the respondents as to whether they had already been informed about the acquittal and his subsequent departure through a special plane already waiting for him at the Lahore airport.

The petitioner had stated that the LHC had directed the interior ministry to place Davis’s name on the ECL and the court was also assured by a law officer and the ministry that the order had been complied with.

He had further said that the court order was in place when Davis was released and the LHC had not suspended or withdrawn its order and no such application was filed by any one on behalf of Davis.

The petitioner had therefore alleged that the government and its functionaries released Davis ignoring the order of the LHC through which his name was placed on the ECL.