The Lahore High Court here on Tuesday gave last opportunity to ministry of foreign affairs to submit its reply in a petition challenging a US act of fixing of bounty on Jamatud Dawa (JuD) chief Hafiz Muhammad Saeed and his deputy Hafiz Abdur Rehman Makki till February 26 next.
Earlier a deputy attorney general stated before the court that the ministry had sought details on the matter from US state department and their response was in waiting. He said the ministry would be able to submit its reply after getting the required details from the US.
The petitioners through their counsel submitted that they had been running a charitable organisation and had no nexus with any banned outfit. The counsel said the US under-Secretary of State Wendy Sherman stated in New Delhi that head-money of $10 million and $3 million had been announced on the heads of Hafiz Saeed and Hafiz Makki respectively. He mentioned that Pakistani superior courts had already exonerated Hafiz Saeed from all charges levelled against him by India and US.
He said the foreign office of Pakistan made it clear to US that concrete evidence to be provided against the petitioners. Counsel said the minister also stated that the US violated international laws by attacking Pakistan's sovereignty. Therefore, the announcement of bounty on the heads of the petitioners was liable to be withdrawn and the petitioners needed to be protected being citizens of Pakistan, the counsel said. He therefore prayed to the court to direct the government to protect the petitioners.