LAHORE, May 5: The Lahore High Court on Thursday allowed Jamatud Daawa (JuD) chief Hafiz Saeed to make the foreign affairs ministry a necessary party in his pending petition wherein he seeks directions for the government to defend him before a US court which summoned him, besides ISI incumbent chief and other officials, in a suit filed by relatives of the Americans killed in Mumbai attacks.

Earlier, a Deputy Attorney General, Nasim Kashmiri, filed a reply on defence ministry’s behalf, saying the ministry had nothing to do with the matter. It further said the ministry had not engaged any counsel to defend Pakistani officials in the US court. The DAG pointed out that the matter fell within the ambit of the foreign affairs ministry.

At this, A.K Dogar, who represents Hafiz Saeed, sought court’s permission to implead foreign affairs ministry as necessary party in the petition.

Justice Umar Ata Bandial allowed the request and adjourned hearing on the petition till May 30.

Legal heirs of US nationals Rabbi Gabriel Noah Holtzberg and his wife Rivka, who were killed in Mumbai attacks, along with others had filed a law suit in a US court against the banned outfit Lashkare Tayba (LeT) of Hafiz Saeed, Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, Azam Cheema and Sajid Majid as well as the ISI, its former chief Nadeem Taj and incumbent head, Lt-Gen Ahmed Shuja Pasha.

The plaintiffs have accused Pakistani persons and officials of providing material support for Mumbai attacks.

Hafiz Saeed pleaded that he was a citizen of Pakistan enjoying all the rights like any other individual, therefore, the government should defend him in the same manner as it was doing  in case of (former and present) ISI heads and other officials.