Pak court gives govt 5 days to decide on Lakhvi

 Lahore, March 26

Lahore High Court Justice Mahmood Maqbool Bajwa ordered the home department of the Punjab government to decide the detention matter by March 31.

Lakhvi yesterday filed a contempt of court petition in the LHC seeking a direction for the state government to decide his detention matter in the light of an order passed by Islamabad High Court (IHC).

The IHC on March 13 had suspended the government’s detention order for Lakhvi and ordered his immediate release.

Just before his release next day, the Punjab government issued a detention order for Lakhvi for another 30 days under the Maintenance of Public Order.

“After hearing the arguments from the Lakhvi’s counsel and a law officer Justice Bajwa disposed of the petition with a direction to the home department (Punjab government) to decide the detention matter of the petitioner within five days,” a court official told PTI.

Last week, Bajwa had dismissed Lakhvi’s petition challenging the Punjab government’s decision to detain him for another 30 days (till April 12).

Lakhvi also filed a contempt of court petition in IHC against the Punjab government’s decision. “The government has committed contempt by not following the direction of the IHC. The contempt of court proceedings should be proceeded against the government,” Lakhvi pleaded. — PTI