The release of Jammatud Dawa Chief Hafiz Mohammad Saeedfrom house arrest has been ordered by the Lahore High Court. The court concluded that that was not sufficient evidence linking Saeed to the Mumbai Attacks and hence no grounds to detain Hafiz Saeed. The court also ordered the release of another Jammatud Dawa leader Col (retd.) Nazir Ahmad.

Reading out the court decision on Tuesday, June 02, 2009, Justice Ijaz Ahmad Chaudhry said that the government had no sufficient grounds for detaining the petitioners for the preventive measures. The court took the decision after considering the UN Security Council resolution 1267 by which Jammatud Dawa was proscribed. The resolution has no mention of detaining Jammatud Dawa members, though it includes freezing their assets and banning their travel and possessing any arms.

The government contended that detaining the petitioners was in public interest. The petitioner’s counsel, Mr. A.K. Dogar argued that Jammatud Dawa was a peaceful organization and should not be bothered or maligned. Mr. Dogar also cited before the court a 1993 UK judgment whereby the rule of law was held above the public interest in case of criminal prosecutions. He submitted that the government was trying to harm Islam by acting in the interest of the West. He spoke about Jammatud Dawa’s members as good Muslims who followed the example of the Holy Prophet (PBUH).