LAHORE - The Provincial Review Board comprising Lahore High Court judges on Friday turned down a Punjab government/police request and ended detention of Malik Ishaq, leader of banned outfit Lashkar-e-Jhangvi.
The Board headed by Justice Nasir Saeed Sheikh with Justice Manzoor Ahmed Malik and Justice Sheikh Ahmed Farooq as its members held in-camera proceedings and heard the detained leader personally and the government as well. Rahim Yar Khan District Police Officer (DPO) produced Ishaq before the board amid strict security arrangements.  The DPO requested the Board to further extend detention of Ishaq, however, the Board members observed that the police had no concrete evidence against the detainee.
The police also tried to hold  Ishaq responsible for the recent terrorist attack in Khanpur but the board rejected police plea by observing: ‘How a detainee can be involved in the attack’. The Punjab government had requested that the detention, which is ending on January 25th, be extended for 30 more days saying that his release would be a threat to peace. Ishaq told the board that he was not involved in any terrorist activity.
He urged the board to end his detention so that he could live like a free citizen. After hearing both sides, the review board refused to extend Malik Ishaq detention and ordered to release him. Ishaq was involved in 44 cases involving 70 murder cases. Courts acquitted him in 34 cases and granted him bail in the remaining 10.
He was released from Kot Lakhpat jail on July 14, 2011 after 14 years of imprisonment as Supreme Court granted bail in case of attack on Sri Lankan team.  Later, the government approached the SC for the cancellation of his bail but the court dismissed the plea.
Thereafter, the government detained him in Rahim Yar Khan jail for 10 days under Maintenance of Public Order Act but it was extended for 60 days on Oct 25th. The same Review Board had on Dec 16, 2011 had extended his detention for a month.