Detention of accused in Lankan team attack extended

A Review Board of the Lahore High Court on Friday extended one month detention of Zubair alias Naik Muhammad, an accused involved Sri Lankan cricket team attack case.

The accused was presented before the Board in strict security.

The Review Board comprising Justice Nasir Saeed Sheikh, Justice Manzoor Ahmad Malik and Justice Sardar Tariq extended the detention when Punjab government requested the board to extend the detention for 90 days.

A government law officer told the Board that a trial court granted the bail to the accused despite evidences and witnesses.

However, an appeal seeking cancellation of the bail of the accused was pending before the Lahore High Court, the law officer added.

He contended that there might be some unrest and possibility of any terrorist activity if the accused was released.

The counsel of the accused opposed the arguments of the government and requested the board to end the detention.

He said that the court had released the accused because of mere evidences.

The Board heard the arguments and extended the detention for a month.

The Board also ordered the government to pay Rs 10, 000 to the family of the accused as monthly expenses.

The Punjab Home Department had issued detention orders for Zubair after a court granted bail to him in the case.

The Sri Lankan cricket team was attacked on March 3, 2009, as a bus carrying Sri Lankan cricketers, part of a larger convoy, was fired at with AK-47 rifles, rockets and hand-grenades by 12 gunmen near Liberty Square, Lahore.(The Nation)