Pak files appeal in SC against Saeed's release from detention

Rezaul H Laskar and M Zulqernain

Islamabad/Lahore, July 3 (PTI) Pakistani authorities on
Friday filed an appeal in the Supreme Court against the
release from house arrest of banned Jamaat-ud-Dawah (JuD)
chief Hafiz Mohammed Saeed, wanted by India in connection with
the Mumbai attacks, saying they had evidence of his group's
links to terror outfits.

The appeal, filed in the apex court by the Home
Department of Punjab province, challenged the Lahore High
Court's order of June 2 that freed Saeed and his close aide
Col (Retd) Nazir Ahmed from house arrest.

The appeal noted that Saeed and Ahmed were originally
detained in light of a UN Security Council resolution that
declared the Jamaat-ud-Dawah (JuD) a terrorist organisation.
It said the government has evidence that the JuD has links
with terrorist groups.

The Punjab government sought the immediate detention of
both Saeed and Ahmed as their freedom could create a law and
order situation. The appeal also said they needed to be
detained for their own "protection."
Rana Sanaullah, the Law Minister of Punjab province,
said, "we hope the federal government will assist us with
complete evidence against the JuD leaders."

The federal government too would be filing a similar
appeal "in a few days," he told PTI.

Unlike in the past, when evidence against Saeed and the
JuD was presented in-camera in the court, the proof should be
made public to strengthen the government's position,
Sanaullah said.

He said the Punjab government had prepared the appeal
soon after the Lahore High Court's decision to free Saeed, but
had been awaiting the federal government's nod to proceed in
the matter.
Saeed, also the founder of the banned Lashker-e-Taiba
(LeT), was freed by the Lahore High Court after he spent
nearly six months under house arrest. The court had said the
Pakistan government did not produce any evidence to link him
to Mumbai attacks.

Saeed and several of his close aides were detained in the
wake of last year's Mumbai attacks after his organisation was
declared a front for the LeT by the UN Security Council. They
were all subsequently freed.

India had expressed concern at the delay by Pakistani
authorities in appealing against the release of Saeed.

On June 23, a special court in Mumbai issued warrants for
the arrest of Saeed and 21 others for alleged involvement in
planning and executing the Mumbai attacks.

The Punjab government's appeal in the apex court against
Saeed's release came ahead of a meeting between Prime
Ministers of the two country on the sidelines of the July
11-16 Non Aligned Movement (NAM) summit in the Egyptian resort
of Sharm el-Sheikh. PTI RHL
RAI
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