Saeed appeals in Pak HC against action under U.S pressure

Lahore: Lashkar-e-Taiba founder Hafiz Saeed has moved the High Court here, asking it to stop Pakistani authorities from taking any “adverse action” against him under pressure from the U.S. and provide security to him as his life was “not safe” and any “mishap” could happen.

Acting on the petition of Saeed for whom the U.S. has offered a 10 million-dollar bounty, Lahore High Court Chief Justice Azmat Saeed Sheikh on Wednesday issued notices to the federal government, the Interior Ministry and the Punjab Home Ministry to file their replies by April 25.

Saeed filed the petition along with his brother-in-law Hafiz Abdur Rehman Makki, for whom the U.S. has announced a $2 million bounty under its Rewards for Justice programme.

Saeed and Makki contended in the petition that under Articles 4 and 9 of the Pakistani Constitution, they are free citizens, and the federal and provincial governments should be stopped from taking any “adverse action” against them under pressure from the U.S.

They asked the court to direct the government to provide them security as their “lives were not safe” and any “mishap” could happen.

Saeed and Makki further requested the court to direct the federal government to ask the U.S. to withdraw the bounty.

Saeed’s lawyer A. K. Dogar said the Pakistan government should ask the U.S. to provide evidence against Saeed, the JuD chief, before acting against him.

“Arresting anyone without evidence is an open violation of the law,” Mr. Dogar said.