Summary Three-member review board in LHC rejected government's request for extension in Saeed's house arrest
LAHORE (Dunya News/AFP) - Three-member review board in Lahore High Court (LHC) on Wednesday rejected the government s petition to extend house arrest of Mumbai attacks suspect Hafiz Saeed.
The Pakistani court heard the case within closed room and ordered the release of the alleged masterminds of the 2008 Mumbai attacks - which killed more than 160 people - on the basis of no substantial evidence. The government had sought an extension in the house arrest for 60 or 90 days
Also, LHC review board chaired by Justice Abdul Sami Khan ruled that there is no other case against Saeed for which he should be immediately released from the house arrest.
Hafiz Saeed, head of Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD), will be freed tomorrow after less than a year in detention following the decision by the LHC.
"The review board looking in to the case... has refused to extend his house arrest as the government failed to provide any evidence against the charges," a spokesman for the party, Ahmed Nadeen said.
The horror of the Mumbai carnage played out on live television around the world as commandos battled the heavily armed gunmen, who arrived by sea on the evening of November 26, 2008.
JuD, which has operated freely across Pakistan and is popular for its charity work, is accused by the US and India to be a front for Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), the militant group blamed for the Mumbai attacks.
It should be recalled that Saeed was put on house arrest on January 30, this year. His party had moved to court against the arrest and the matter was then referred to the review board.
