Review request: Punjab government to challenge Lakhvi’s release in top court

Appeal against LHC ruling to be filed in a couple of days

LAHORE: The Punjab government will challenge in the Supreme Court the release of Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, the alleged mastermind of the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, by the Lahore High Court (LHC).

On April 9, a single judge of the LHC ordered Lakhvi’s release after suspending his detention under the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) issued by Okara’s top administrator on March 12. Lakhvi had been in detention for over five years for his alleged involvement in the Mumbai attacks.

An insider in the Punjab Advocate General office told The Express Tribune that the draft of the appeal has been prepared and it will be filed in the Supreme Court within a couple of days. It states that Lakhvi is the operational chief of banned outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba.

His release is against the UN resolutions, argues the appeal to be filed on behalf of the Punjab home secretary, Okara DCO and Adiala Jail superintendent.

The government, it says, is responsible for maintaining peace in the society and the courts have no authority to intervene in this matter.

To hold proceedings on detentions under the MPO is the authority of the review board and not that of courts.

Warning of further unrest in the country following Lakhvi’s release, the government has contended in the appeal that the LHC order was without realising the sensitivity of the secret information presented against him in the court.

The appeal says that Lakhvi’s release will affect the trial as it may also influence the statements of the prosecution witnesses that were planned to be recorded against him.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 15^th, 2015.