LAHORE: A three-member review board of the Lahore High Court dismissed the provincial government’s application on Monday seeking an extension of Lashkar-i-Jhangvi leader Malik Ishaq’s detention. Ishaq has been detained for the past six months.
The Home Department detained him on July 4 under the maintenance of public order law for inciting violence through hate speech.
After 90 days the provincial government produced Ishaq before the LHC’s review board and asked for an extension of 90 days.
As the extension is about to expire, the government once again produced him before the review board on Monday requesting an extension.
The request was denied as the government failed to provide reasonable justification for the extension of detention.
On May 28, due to lack of evidence, an anti-terrorism court in Rawalpindi had acquitted Ishaq of charges of inciting violence.
Ishaq was declared a Specially Designated Global Terrorist by the US State Department earlier this year. He heads Lashkar-i-Jhangvi, an organisation accused of spearheading attacks against the Shia community. Despite being officially banned in 2001, the group has been operating openly across the country particularly in the Punjab.
Ishaq was produced before the board on Monday amid tight security.
No journalists or litigants were allowed in the court room though the proceedings were held in the chamber of Court Room Number 2.
The board asked the government of the Punjab to deal with him according to law.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 23rd, 2014.
COMMENTS (26)
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I was wondering about the whereabouts of the cashier from the local 7 Eleven and lo, and behold! he has turned up in Punjab.
Pakistan still has considerable number of people that support various lashkars across the country. This depicts the division of society in to various sects. Witnesses don’t come forward to testify and judges either fear or connive with the accused. In such a scenario Peshawar carnage is not going to bring any substantial change in the policy of the establishment. Selective targeting of terrorists would continue where TTP will be targeted and Afghan Taliban and local lashkars will be spared at the peril of the country further fragmenting.
More the things change, more they remain the same. Within a week of Peshawar tragedy, Pakistan establishment has taken a hairpin turn. I don't think Pakistan has in it to walk the talk.
Its Christmas time and Pakistan Judicial system is the Santa Claus for all these bozos...
@Imran Bashir: Thanks! Indeed it is none other than PML N. I did mention this in an earlier comment but that got clipped.
Shame shame shame on the Sharifs and company.
Chief of Sipah Muhammad also released last month after a decade !!! its also a banned outfit !!
@salim: which political party ? It is definitely PML N. Ask Rana Sanaullah. He is best friend of Malik Jhangvi. Jhangvi party supported Rana during elections.
Folks, this person cannot be arrested or detained for long. The votes that he commands is a lifeline for a certainly political party.
Unbelievable!
I really don't get it. A person openly preaches violence, threatens genocide and you set him free on the grounds of lack of evidence. But if a mullah hears someone expressing alternative views on Islam, thats sufficient evidence and his murder is justified. Shame on our lousy impotent courts!
What the heck? Under the circumstances judiciary should be restrained from issuing verdicts on terrorists. our judiciary has always created problems for the executive and general public. Release this man and he will again be out on the killing spree. The moment he comes out the government should arrest him again, at least under MPO.
Serious disconnect between the Prime Ministers words........and his deeds.
This monster should be convicted and hanged period!
Releasing the Snake
Fate of Moulvi Ishaq and Lakhvi will determine if there is any change in policy at all. Moulvi Ishaq is the most dangerous and powerful Mulla around. People accusing police and judiciary for letting him go should know that several people including prosecutors and witnesses lost their lives when he was being tried, and was eventually set free for lack of evidence. He and his handlers were responsible for removing the evidence. Judges don't want to be taken out, do they??
Lack of evidence? search the facebook and twitter pages and evaluate their sms service please, where they congratulate after killing any shia... if Ishaq can be released, we have no hopes from this judicial system..
Justice is blind but Judges should not be blind...this snake will come and bite them as well
Pakistan still has considerable number of people that support various lashkars across the country. This depicts the division of society in to various sects. Witnesses don't come forward to testify and judges either fear or connive with the accused. In such a scenario Peshawar carnage is not going to bring any substantial change in the policy of the establishment. Selective targeting of terrorists would continue where TTP will be targeted and Afghan Taliban and local lashkars will be spared at the peril of the country further fragmenting.
Very clear to see where the terrorist allies are. Judiciary has been compromised.
So much for change !! Pakistan is doomed to repeat the same mistakes forever !!
I wonder if this LHC is run by Fazallulah. He might very well be hiding in there disguised as judge instead of Afghan.
did they want to have him kill somebody with his hands as an evidence?
Punjab Govt's law for such people is 'let them roam free with a license to kill.'
what is the source of this development and why another murder of justice through release of this terrorist?