LAHORE: House arrest of Mumbai terror attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed has been extended by authorities in Pakistan's Punjab province, for another two months in a bid to maintain public order. Saeed has been under house arrest since January 31 this year. In a notification issued on July 28, the Punjab Government Home Department said on the recommendation of the federal interior ministry the detention of the activist- Saeed has been extended for another 60 days.
“The Counter Terrorism Department has reported that keeping in view the expected release of said activist (Saeed) and other leaders and workers of said organisations (JuD and Falah-e-Insaniat) they have planned to spread chaos in the country. They have planned to make demonstrations under the leadership of Saeed,” the notification read. “He will be portrayed as a hero and his acts will be glorified. Abdul Rehman Makki who is the central leader of the JuD has been making preparations for the purpose and has launched a secret campaign to muster support of the workers.”
The notification added that the District Intelligence Committee Lahore separately said that Saeed would create law and order situation upon his release. Additional Home Secretary Azam Suleman believes that his activities are “prejudicial to public safety and maintenance of public order.” “Thereby the Home Department in exercise of powers conferred under sub-section 1 of Section-3 of the Punjab Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance 1960 Hafiz Saeed is detained for a period of 60 days with effect from July 28, 2017.”
Saeed and four close aides – Abdullah Ubaid, Malik Zafar Iqbal, Abdul Rehman Abid, and Qazi Kashif Hussain, were detained by the Punjab government for 90 days under the Anti-Terrorism Act 1997.
