Court orders release of Hafiz Saeed
islamabad — A Pakistan court on Wednesday ordered the release from house arrest of terrorist leader Hafiz Saeed, blamed for the 2008 Mumbai terror attack.
A Judicial Review Board consisting of judges from the Lahore High Court rejected a plea from the government of Pakistan’s Punjab province to extend his detention by three months reported.
“The review board looking in to the case... has refused to extend his house arrest as the government failed to provide any evidence against the charges,” a spokesman for the party, Ahmed Nadeem said.
The court had warned the government last month that it would end Saeed’s house arrest if enough evidence was not submitted against the Jamaat-udDawa (JuD) chief. Saeed and four aides were placed under house arrest in January under the AntiTerrorism Act.
Saeed’s advocate AK Dogar earlier said the JuD leaders had been detained on the basis of allegations, without any substantial evidence, and called the call for extending the detention “illegal”
In previous proceedings, the Punjab Home Department has argued that if he was released, his activities would pose a serious threat to public safety and public order.
Saeed is accused by India of masterminding the Mumbai terror attack of November 2008 which left 166 Indians and foreigners dead. — IANS, AFP
The review board looking in to the case... has refused to extend his house arrest as the government failed to provide any evidence against the charges Ahmed Nadeem, a spokesman of the JUD