LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Friday ordered the authorities in Punjab to release Shahid Aziz alias Gullu Butt from prison after declaring his detention as “illegal”.
Butt, apparently an activist of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), was arrested after several TV channels, carried footage in which he was seen damaging cars outside Minhajul Quran International Secretariat on June 17 — the day that Punjab police launched a crackdown on Dr Tahirul Qadri’s charity.
The petitioner’s counsel on Wednesday said a division bench of the LHC on August 12 had granted Gullu Butt a bail but the Punjab government had detained him again.
“The government has declared the petitioner an associate of terrorists and further extended his detention without presenting any tangible evidence against him,” the counsel said. He requested the LHC judge Justice Muhammad Qasim Khan to set aside the detention.
The counsel for the home department also submitted the government’s reply, stating that Gullu Butt was a threat to law and situation in the province. “Gullu Butt was detained fearing any illegal activity,” he added.
The judge inquired from the law officer if any action was taken against the police officials, who allowed Gullu Butt to attack the vehicles. The law officer replied that a case had been registered against the policemen and departmental action would follow.
Television footage showed Gullu Butt smashing windscreens of private cars in the presence of police officials. Some officials were also shown praising him for his performance in the footage aired on TV channels.
After hearing both sides, the judge directed the government to immediately release him.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 27th, 2014.
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