Not bound to act on US bounties: Pak federal govt tells court

Pakistan on Wednesday said it was not bound to act on the bounties offered by the US for Lashkar-e-Taiba founder Hafiz Mohammad Saeed and his brother-in-law Abdul Rahman Makkias as the American administration had taken the step on its own.

Pakistan is only bound to implement any resolution or announcement of the United Nations, a law officer of the federal government said in a reply submitted to the Lahore High Court in response to a petition filed by Saeed.

Chief Justice Azmat Saeed Sheikh, who is hearing the case, had on April 18 issued notices to the federal and Punjab governments to respond to Saeed's petition.

The federal government said in its reply it was not bound to act on the bounties offered by the US for Saeed and Makki as the American administration had taken the step on its own.

Pakistan, being a signatory to the Charter of the UN, is bound to act on the resolutions or announcements of the world body, the government said in its response.

The federal government further said the issue of providing security to Saeed was a provincial subject.

The law officer of the Punjab government sought more time from the court to submit a reply.

Chief Justice Sheikh adjourned the matter till May 7.