Saeed’s Counsel Files Plea to End House Arrest

Jammat-ud-Dawah (JuD) chief and alleged mastermind of Mumbai terror attacks Hafiz Saeed has filed a petition in a Pakistan court seeking the discharge of two “fake” cases lodged against him under Anti-Terrorism Act.

The writ petition filed by Saeed’s lawyer AK Dogar in the Lahore High Court contended that the two FIRs registered against the JuD chief in Faislabad last week were “without lawful authority and of no legal effect”.

The plea also claimed that despite “no charge” against Saeed, the Indian government is putting pressure on Pakistan to take action against him. It said that two “fake” cases had been lodged against Saeed merely on the ground of baseless allegations and that police cannot keep him in custody constitutionally or legally under such charges.

It may be mentioned that Saeed was put under house arrest following two FIRs against him. However, no formal written order was issued for the detention according to police officials and a JuD spokesman.

Saeed has been accused of making speeches in which he provoked people to wage jehad against infidels and sought funds for the outlawed JuD.

Dismissing these allegations, Saeed’s petition said, “To exhort the Muslims of Pakistan to act on the injunctions of the Holy Quran can never be said to be a criminal act.”

The petition said that the FIRs were filed 19 days after Saeed allegedly made the speeches and this pointed to “machinations and preparation of a scheme for involving (Saeed) in any case whatsoever so as to appease India”. This amounted to “nothing but a manifestation of malicious motives”, it added.

Saeed was put under house arrest in December last year after the UN Security Council declared the JuD a terrorist organisation. He was freed on the orders of the Lahore High Court in June.