Islamabad: In a significant development, Pakistan's Lahore High Court on December 14 set free from
house arrest, Maulana Masood Azhar, the chief of the banned Islamic outfit, Jaish-e-Mohammad
involved in the December 13 attack on Indian Parliament.
Azhar, the terrorist released by India to end the hijack episode in Kandahar in
1999, was ordered to be released by the review board of the court despite
reservations of the security officials.
The officials felt that his release could have an adverse impact on the law and
order situation in the country, official APP news agency reported on December
14.
Azhar's release from preventive detention followed the recent release of Hafeez
Mushammad Saeed, the founder leader of the another Islamic outfit,
Lashkar-e-Toiba on the similar orders by the same court.
Saeed's release has been criticised by India and Bush administration. Both Jaish
and Lashkar which were accused by India of taking part in the Dec 13 attack on
the Indian Parliament and have been subsequently banned by President Pervez
Musharraf earlier this year.
Besides accusing Azhar and Saeed for playing major role in the Parliament
attack, India also demanded their extradition to face trial.
Both of them have been taken into preventive detention immediately after the
Parliament attack and their detention was periodically extended. Subsequently,
they have been shifted from the prisons and held under house arrest.
PTI
