A top law officer of the Punjab government has sought time from the Lahore High Court (LHC) to prepare arguments on a petition challenging detention of Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) Chief Hafiz Saad Hussain Rizvi.
A LHC division bench led by Chief Justice Mohammad Ameer Bhatti and Justice Tariq Saleem Sheikh, which was formed late last night, took up the matter for hearing on Thursday.
Chief Justice Bhatti remarked that the SC had directed that the matter be investigated, adding that they received the case file very late.
In a hearing of the case today, Advocate General Punjab (AGP) Ahmed Awais said that they would see to the matter. The AGP pleaded to the court that he came to know about the fixation of the case late at night, and therefore, needed time to prepare arguments for it.
The counsel for the petitioner Ameer Hussain, who is Rizvi’s uncle, has also pled the same and sought time for the preparation of arguments. The counsel said that Rizvi’s detention period was over, but he was still not released. He said that the Supreme Court (SC) also did not extend Rizvi’s detention and the decision of the apex court was quite clear on the subject.
Hussain also argued that the review board had not extended the detention of Rizvi and asked the court to order Rizvi’s immediate release.
After hearing initial arguments on both sides, the bench adjourned the hearing for November 3.
