Spewing venom: Another LeJ leader put under house arrest

Shah is considering a close aide of LeJ leader Malik Ishaq as well as co-accused in some cases of terrorism.

LAHORE:



The Punjab government has jailed a close aide of Lashkar-e-Jhangvi’s operational chief, Malik Ishaq, to preempt sectarian strife, under Maintenance of Public Order.



Ghulam Rasool Shah, who is also a co-accused in some cases of terrorism registered against Ishaq, was earlier confined in his hometown, Bahawalnagar. Intelligence and law enforcement agencies’ reports have revealed that the banned organisation’s leaders are engaged in highly objectionable activities which may spark sectarian violence in Punjab, particularly in the areas they visited, said sources in the counterterrorism department.

Shah was transferred to prison for 30 days from the police guesthouse where he was being detained. District Coordination Officer (DCO) Asim Iqbal issued a detention order which may be extended up to 90 days. Ishaq, who was released from Kot Lakhpat jail in the third week of July, has been under temporary house arrest in Rahimyar Khan since Thursday. The 12 police officials deployed at his house for round-the-clock guard are not just there to make sure he stays home but also to ensure his security. His 10-day detention order is likely to be extended, according to sources in the security branch of Rahimyar Khan police. The city’s DCO issued the order at the district police officer’s request.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 24th,  2011.

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