ID :
70448
Wed, 07/15/2009 - 09:57
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/70448
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Punjab wants to withdraw appeal in SC against Saeed's release
Rezaul H Laskar
Islamabad, Jul 14 (PTI) In a surprising move, Pakistan's
Punjab provincial government Tuesday informed the Supreme
Court that it wanted to withdraw its petition against the
release of JuD chief Hafiz Mohd Saeed, a key accused in Mumbai
attacks, from house arrest, saying it did not have "adequate
evidence" against him.
The provincial government's move came hours before a
meeting between Foreign Secretaries of India and Pakistan in
Egypt on the margins of NAM summit to review the progress made
by Islamabad to bring to book perpetrators of Mumbai attacks.
When two petitions, including that of federal government,
challenging Saeed's release were taken up by a three-member
bench headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry, Punjab
Advocate General Muhammad Raza Farooq informed it that the
provincial government wanted to withdraw its appeal as it did
not have adequate evidence against the JuD chief.
The court adjourned the matter till July 16 without any
decision on Punjab government's request to withdraw its
petition.
Farooq also told the court that federal authorities had
not shared any proof against Saeed with the Punjab government.
Before adjourning the case till Thursday, the Chief
Justice sought views of Deputy Attorney General Shah Khawar,
who was representing the federal government, on Punjab
government's request.
Khawar asked for time to hold consultations with Farooq
so that a final decision could be conveyed to the court.
Attorney General Latif Khosa too reached the courtroom
and held consultations with Khawar and Farooq. They were
joined by senior legal officials.
Later, the court adjourned the matter till July 16.
Farooq told PTI on phone that the Punjab government's
petition had not yet been withdrawn. A decision in this regard
was expected at the next hearing, he added.
Sources said the federal government had asked the apex
court to put off the case for a few days so that federal
bodies and the government's legal team could hold
consultations on the issue.
The Supreme Court yesterday began hearing two petitions
filed by the federal and Punjab governments to challenge
Saeed's release on the orders of the Lahore High Court on June
2.
Rana Sanaullah, the Law Minister of Punjab, told
reporters in Lahore that the provincial government decided to
withdraw its petition as certain "weaknesses" in it had come
to light during yesterday's hearing. It would not be good for
the Punjab government if the apex court's decision went
against it, he added.
Sanaullah said the Punjab government's order to put Saeed
under house arrest in December last year was issued on the
directions of the federal government. "After that, the federal
government demanded that we file an appeal in the Supreme
Court (to challenge his release)."
Both the federal and Punjab governments filed appeals.
"No purpose was served by dual appeals, so we took back our
appeal," Sanaullah said.
The Punjab government had acted on the UN Security
Council resolution against the Jamaat-ud-Dawah (JuD) with
"complete commitment" and the group's centres were sealed and
its activities checked, he said.
"We have fully ensured that no terrorist activities are
being carried out in the JuD's centres," Sanaullah said.
Saeed had been kept under house arrest for the maximum
period permissible under the law and the Lahore High Court had
ruled that he could not be held in detention for an indefinite
period, he said.
The JuD chief and his close aide Col (retired) Nazir
Ahmed were placed under house arrest in December last year in
the wake of the Mumbai attacks.
On May 2, a judicial review board of the Lahore High
Court extended their detention by 60 days. However, acting on
a petition filed by Saeed, the High Court ordered their
release on June 2. PTI RHL
pmr
NNNN
I
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Islamabad, Jul 14 (PTI) In a surprising move, Pakistan's
Punjab provincial government Tuesday informed the Supreme
Court that it wanted to withdraw its petition against the
release of JuD chief Hafiz Mohd Saeed, a key accused in Mumbai
attacks, from house arrest, saying it did not have "adequate
evidence" against him.
The provincial government's move came hours before a
meeting between Foreign Secretaries of India and Pakistan in
Egypt on the margins of NAM summit to review the progress made
by Islamabad to bring to book perpetrators of Mumbai attacks.
When two petitions, including that of federal government,
challenging Saeed's release were taken up by a three-member
bench headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry, Punjab
Advocate General Muhammad Raza Farooq informed it that the
provincial government wanted to withdraw its appeal as it did
not have adequate evidence against the JuD chief.
The court adjourned the matter till July 16 without any
decision on Punjab government's request to withdraw its
petition.
Farooq also told the court that federal authorities had
not shared any proof against Saeed with the Punjab government.
Before adjourning the case till Thursday, the Chief
Justice sought views of Deputy Attorney General Shah Khawar,
who was representing the federal government, on Punjab
government's request.
Khawar asked for time to hold consultations with Farooq
so that a final decision could be conveyed to the court.
Attorney General Latif Khosa too reached the courtroom
and held consultations with Khawar and Farooq. They were
joined by senior legal officials.
Later, the court adjourned the matter till July 16.
Farooq told PTI on phone that the Punjab government's
petition had not yet been withdrawn. A decision in this regard
was expected at the next hearing, he added.
Sources said the federal government had asked the apex
court to put off the case for a few days so that federal
bodies and the government's legal team could hold
consultations on the issue.
The Supreme Court yesterday began hearing two petitions
filed by the federal and Punjab governments to challenge
Saeed's release on the orders of the Lahore High Court on June
2.
Rana Sanaullah, the Law Minister of Punjab, told
reporters in Lahore that the provincial government decided to
withdraw its petition as certain "weaknesses" in it had come
to light during yesterday's hearing. It would not be good for
the Punjab government if the apex court's decision went
against it, he added.
Sanaullah said the Punjab government's order to put Saeed
under house arrest in December last year was issued on the
directions of the federal government. "After that, the federal
government demanded that we file an appeal in the Supreme
Court (to challenge his release)."
Both the federal and Punjab governments filed appeals.
"No purpose was served by dual appeals, so we took back our
appeal," Sanaullah said.
The Punjab government had acted on the UN Security
Council resolution against the Jamaat-ud-Dawah (JuD) with
"complete commitment" and the group's centres were sealed and
its activities checked, he said.
"We have fully ensured that no terrorist activities are
being carried out in the JuD's centres," Sanaullah said.
Saeed had been kept under house arrest for the maximum
period permissible under the law and the Lahore High Court had
ruled that he could not be held in detention for an indefinite
period, he said.
The JuD chief and his close aide Col (retired) Nazir
Ahmed were placed under house arrest in December last year in
the wake of the Mumbai attacks.
On May 2, a judicial review board of the Lahore High
Court extended their detention by 60 days. However, acting on
a petition filed by Saeed, the High Court ordered their
release on June 2. PTI RHL
pmr
NNNN
I
The information contained in this electronic message and any attachments to this
message are intended for the exclusive
use of the addressee(s) and may contain proprietary, confidential or privileged
information. If you are not the intended
recipient, you should not disseminate, distribute or copy this e-mail. Please
notify the sender immediately and destroy
all copies of this message and any attachments contained in it.
