Review board comprising judges of the Lahore High Court has extended one month detention of former leaders of banned Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, Malik Ishaq and Ghulam Rasool Shah, here Friday. The board comprising Justice Nasir Saeed Sheikh, Justice Manzoor Ahmed Malik and Justice Sheikh Ahmed Farooq held in-camera proceedings. DPOs Rahim Yar Khan and Bahawalnagar produced Ishaq and Shah before the board.
They were brought to the court in an armoured personnel carrier vehicle. Both the DPOs requested the court to extend their detention. They said as Ishaq was released from the jail on bail he started objectionable activities. He was kept in fourth schedule and was supposed to inform the law enforcing agencies of his movement but he used to make movement without any prior information. Ishaq in his defence said that he was released after spending 14 years in jail. He said the Punjab government without having any incriminating material against him had issued his detention order. He said if he was to be kept under detention, the authorities can keep him detained at his house and can put ban on speaking.
While Shah submitted that he is student of LLB part one and is legal advisor to Ahle Sunnat Waljamaat (new name of Lashkar-e-Jhangvi). He pursues their cases in courts and had nothing to do with objectionable activities. After hearing both parties, the board extended their detention.
Malik Ishaq was involved in 44 cases involving 70 homicides. Courts acquitted him in 34 cases and granted him bail in the remaining 10. He was released from Kot Lakhpat jail on July 14, 2011 after 14 years of imprisonment as Supreme Court had granted bail in the case of attack on Sri Lankan team. Later, Punjab government approached the SC for the cancellation of his bail but the court dismissed the plea. Thereafter, the government detained Ishaq in Rahim Yar Khan jail for 10 days under Maintenance of Public Order Act but it was extended for 60 days on October 25.