Monday, August 28 2006 17:31 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Islamabad: A Pakistani court today (Aug 28, 2006) ordered the release of Hafeez Muhammad Saeed, founder leader of banned Lashkar-e-Toyaba, on the ground the government has failed to provide strong reasons for his arrest.

The Lahore High Court held that the government has failed to provide strong reasons for his arrest and his detention was based on speculation that he could disturb peace, Saeed's lawyer Nazir Ahmad Ghazi told PTI from Lahore.

Judge Akhtar Shabbir quashed the detention order saying the government has failed to provide any proof or strong reasons for his detention.

The court accepted the defence counsel's argument that Saeed has never indulged in activities to disturb peace and the government has failed to provide proof, he said.

In view of the court's order, the government has to release him, Ghazi said, adding that he is free from this minute.

Saeed, who currently heads a NGO called Jamat-ud-Dawa, (JUD) was arrested on August 10 under the maintenance of public order on the ground that he was likely to disturb peace during his planned rally coinciding with Pakistan's independence day on August 14.

Initially he was held under house detention and later shifted to a guest house reportedly in Sheikhapura.