Pak Court directs govt to give reply on Saeed's security plea by April 25

Lahore, Apr 19(ANI): The Lahore High Court has issued notices to both the federal and Punjab governments to file a reply by April 25 regarding Jamat-ud-Dawa chief Hafiz Saeed's petition seeking protection following the U.S. announcement of a 10 million dollar bounty on him.

LHC Chief Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed asked the deputy attorney-general and Punjab advocate-general to assist the court on whether a country had the power to announce bounty on the heads of citizens of another independent country, The Express Tribune reports.

Saeed and his brother-in-law Abdul Rehman Makki had filed their petitions through Advocate AK Dogar, who submitted before the court that the JuD is a charitable organisation and had no links with the Lashkar-e-Taiba, as alleged by India.

Dogar urged the court to direct the government to protect petitioners and make arrangements for their security under Article 9 of the Pakistan Constitution.

He further prayed that the government be directed to seek withdrawal of the bounty by the U.S.

Dogar added that Pakistan had clarified to the U.S. that concrete evidence should be provided against the petitioners.

The counsel also sought an order against any possible adverse action against the petitioners or their families by the Pakistan government or any agency, without prior permission from the High Court. (ANI)