Lahore High Court here Tuesday allowed more time to the defence ministry to file reply to a petition of Jamat-ud-Dawa Chief, Hafiz Muhammad Saeed seeking directions for the government to defend him, being a citizen of Pakistan, before a US Court.
A deputy attorney general, Nasim Kashmiri informed the court that a letter has been sent to the ministry besides a telephonic conversation with the officials concerned with regard to submission of reply. However, the ministry has not responded so far, therefore, more time should be allowed for the doing the needful. The court therefore adjourned the proceedings to May 5 and asked the law officer to ensure submission of reply by next hearing.
On previous hearing, interior ministry had informed the court that it had nothing to do with providing lawyer or legal assistance to anyone in lawsuit pending in USA. Upon this, the petitioner's counsel argued that the issue might be related to defence ministry so a reply should be called from it.
Hafiz Saeed, through his counsel A.K Dogar had plead in the petition that he is the head of Jamat-ud-Dawa, a charitable organisation, and has no link with Lashkar-e-Tayyaba. The petitioner stated that on December 16, 2010 he was served with summons from United States District Court in connection with a case relating to Mumbai attacks. On December 31, 2010 federal government announced to defend legal suit against other parties including ISI head Lieutenant General Ahmed Shujja Pasha.
Saeed pleaded that he is a citizen of Pakistan and enjoying the same rights like any other individual. He asserted that the government should also defend him in the same manner as it is protecting chief of ISI and other officials. Therefore, the federal government should be directed to defend him before the American Court in the same manner as ISI officials are being protected, the petitioner prayed.
US nationals Rabbi Gabriel Noah Holtzberg and his wife Rivka were killed by militants in Mumbai attacks. Their son Moshe was saved and he, along-with other persons filed nine claims against banned outfit Lashkar-e-Tayyaba (LeT) of Hafiz Muhammad Saeed, Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, Azam Cheema and Sajid Majid as well as the ISI, its former chief Nadeem Taj and incumbent head, Lieutenant General Ahmed Shuja Pasha and Majors Iqbal and Sameer Ali. They were accused of providing material support for the 26/11 Mumbai attacks. For each of the claims, the plaintiffs have sought damages of 75,000 US dollars.