The Punjab government has approached the Supreme Court to challenge the decision by the Lahore High Court calling the detention of TLP leader Saad Rizvi as illegal.

On October 1, the LHC called Rizvi's detention as illegal after which the deputy commissioner of Lahore on Saturday called for his release "immediately."

The police detained Rizvi on April 12 on charges that he had incited his followers to take the law into their own hands after the PTI-led government did not expel the French ambassador, a key demand of TLP. The party supporters were protesting the republication of blasphemous cartoons in France, a decision which was supported by the country's president under the right of freedom of expression.

Rizvi's continued detention was challenged by his uncle after a review board had rejected Punjab's home department's request to extend it on July 2. He was not released as the DC Lahore extended it by another 90 days. after which Rizvi's uncle filed a petition saying the government's decision was based on mala fide intent.

According to Monday's report in Dawn, the Punjab government said in its petition "that legal requirements were not met in the LHC's direction, paving the way for the TLP chief's release."

They believed his detention was necessary to prevent any untoward law and order situation.

"There is credible information that hardliners within TLP are planning to stage sabotage activities as they are waiting for the release of detenue," the petition added, as reported by Dawn.

The Punjab government approached the Supreme Court on Monday, challenging the Lahore High Court’s (LHC) order declaring the detention of TLP chief Saad Hussain Rizvi (TLP), illegal.

The LHC had on Oct 1 declared illegal the detention of Rizvi in response to a plea filed by Rizvi's uncle against his continued incarceration. Subsequently, the Lahore deputy commissioner had also issued orders for Rizvi's release, citing the LHC judgement. The orders have, however, yet to be complied with and Rizvi is still in custody.

In addition, the DC's order had referred to two earlier decisions taken by the federal review board of the Supreme Court (SC) with regards to Rizvi's detention.

On July 2, a review board of the LHC had rejected the Punjab Home Department's request to extend Rizvi's detention under the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) Ordinance, 1960. It had released its detailed order in the case on July 8, observing that Rizvi should be "released forthwith" if he was not required in any other case.