Banned outfits: Ishaq banned from entering Muzaffargarh for three months

The orders were issued by District Coordination Officer (DCO) Tahir Khursheed on a letter sent by District Police Officer (DPO) Rao Munir Zia on January 31. PHOTO: NNI/FILE

LAHORE: The Muzaffargarh district administration on Wednesday issued a notice to the district police banning entry of former Lashkar-i-Jhangvi (LeJ) leader Malik Ishaq into the Muzaffargarh district for three months, after he was released from Kot Lakhpat jail on January 21.

Ishaq, accused in 44 cases involving 70 killings, has been acquitted in 34 cases and granted bail in another 10. He was released from Kot Lakhpat jail, Lahore, after a Lahore High Court review board denied an extension to his detention under Maintenance of Public Order Law.

Special Branch official told The Express Tribune that the decision was taken anticipating that Ishaq’s entry to the district may cause disruption of peace and sectarian tensions.

He said District Police Officer (DPO) Rao Munir Zia had sent a letter on January 31 to District Coordination Officer (DCO) Tahir Khursheed suggesting the ban. Both departments, he said, agreed on the proposal and the DCO issued the orders under Sectio¬n-5 of the Punjab Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) Ordinance 1960.

Under the MPO, the Home Department can detain a person for up to three months if they suspect that the person could create a law and order situation.

No person can be detained for longer than three months, unless a judicial board has reviewed the case and permitted that the detention be continued.

The former LeJ leader recently made an appearance at the Difa-i-Pakistan Conference on a special invitation from the Ahle Sunnat wal Jamaat leadership.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 2^nd, 2012.