ISLAMABAD: Concerned over free movement of a leader of a banned sectarian organisation, the federal cabinet decided on Wednesday to formally take up the matter with the Punjab government.

Malik Ishaq, former head of the proscribed Lashkar-i-Jhangvi, had attended a rally organised by the Difaa-i-Pakistan Council in Multan o n Jan 30. A source told Dawn that a couple of ministers from southern Punjab had raised the issue during the cabinet meeting and said it appeared that Malik Ishaq had got patronage from the provincial government.

Interior Minister Rehman Malik told the meeting that the permission for the rallies held in Lahore and Multan by the Difa-i-Pakistan Council recently had been granted by the district coordination officers concerned.

Since the DCOs fell under the administrative control of the chief minister, the federal government at best could seek an explanation from the Punjab government, he added.

The source said the cabinet decided to formally take up the issue with the provincial government, ensuring that the Difaa-i-Pakistan Council should stay away from individuals like Malik Ishaq in future.

Malik Ishaq rose to fame because of his alleged involvement in an attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team in Lahore in 2009.

He was released on bail by the Supreme Court in July last ear after the prosecution failed to prove his involvement in the case.

After the cabinet meeting, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani hosted a dinner for the parliamentarians belonging to allied parties of the Pakistan People’s Party.

According to an official of the prime minister’s secretariat, the function was meant to shore up support of the coalition partners for a smooth passage of the 20th Amendment bill.

Prominent among those who attended the dinner were Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, Haji Munir Khan Orakzai, Haider Abbas Rizvi, Babar Khan Ghauri and Ghulam Ahmad Bilour.

Speaking on the occasion, Prime Minister Gilani said being a unanimously elected leader of the house he wanted to get the bill passed by the parliament with consensus. He informed the coalition partners that he had already talked to JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman and sought his cooperation for the passage of the bill.

The coalition partners assured the prime minister of their full support for adoption of the 20th Amendment and said the amendment would benefit all parties because it would give legal cover to by-elections.