The Supreme Court has referred the issue of Saad Hussain Rizvi’s release to a two-member bench of the Lahore High Court (LHC). This happened after the Punjab government approached the country’s apex court in a challenge to the LHC’s earlier decision. Rizvi, leader of the banned Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), was released from detention this week after the LHC ruled on the matter.
On 01 October, the LHC had declared Rizvi’s continued detention illegal after a plea was filed by his uncle. Rizvi was thereafter released, to the jubiliation of his supporters.
After this decision by the LHC, the Punjab government had approached the apex court. In its petition, the Punjab government argued that legal requirements were not met by the LHC in its decision. The provincial government also cited reports by intelligence agencies which raised the possibility of Rizvi’s followers in the TLP creating a problem for law and order in the country.
