ISLAMABAD: Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Friday issued notices to the government as Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, the alleged mastermind of the 2008 Mumbai attacks, challenged his detention orders.
On December 19, authorities had detained Lakhvi under Section 3 of the Maintenance of Public Order (3MPO) in Adiala jail for 30 days, shortly after he was granted bail by an anti-terrorism court (ATC).
Justice Noorul Haq N Qureshi issued notice to the federation and directed it to file a reply by December 29.
Lakhvi, through his counsel Raja Rizwan Abbasi, had challenged his detention orders, contending that they are ‘illegal’. He argued that the ATC had granted his client bail, but the government had flouted the ATC’s orders by not releasing his client.
He requested the court to annul the detention orders.
However, Justice Qureshi observed that the court can not decide the matter without hearing version of the federal government and adjourned the hearing till December 29.
The Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) administration had issued orders for Lakhvi's detention. According to ICT official, the basic objective of the detention was to prevent Lakhvi from attending any public meeting and potentially regrouping.
Sources in the ICT administration said authorities had also requested the Punjab home department to issue orders for Lakhvi’s detention to prevent him from moving to his hometown, Okara.
Lakhvi is currently detained at the Adiala jail alongside six other suspects allegedly involved in the Mumbai attacks.
COMMENTS (10)
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@Visibility: Pakistan does not have extradition treaty with India. It can not just hand over its citizens to another country.
@Wali: Don't be surprised if it takes forever. This guy can spill the beans on the higher ups. Just imagine the headline "Government of Pakistan tried by the Supreme Court of Pakistan".
Bail or no bail, this guy surely lives a comfortable life.
@ singh Googling is not enough sir. Fronsic analysis of voice is required by court. It's not India where you can allege any one, on your personal dislikes, without proper investigation. BTW why India is not helping pakistan government to properly investigate the case. Are your government is trying to hide something?
Seems Mr lakhva is staying in a premium room as he seems to be enjoying bottled water.
What are we reduced to ? Let's get rid of this menace. Stop publishing their pictures. Publish them only when they are hanging by a rope.
Dear Islamabad Police, As we all know, you are extremely good in locking up the innocent on fabricated charges since forever. Do one good for Pakistan and think up of something if and when this creature steps out. Regards, An old Sufferer.
@Azam Khan: Google Audio tape of 26/11
The most shocking thing is that after 5 years it is not a legal process to determine the guilt or culpability but rather detention or not.
If Pakistan will not charge him for this most heinous crime, why not send him to India so that they can follow up? That will show the world that Pakistan is serious about fighting terrorism. I am sure India would even accept that they would not be able to judge him to the death penalty. But of course, Pakistan now wants death penalty for their internal terrorists but not those the act in other countries. I still think surrendering him to India, with restriction on death penalty would be an excellent move.
@Lateef: What rubbish. When did anyone direct children to be killed in the Mumbai attack. I do not support any kind of killing or terrorism in any form; but this is a white lie. Lateef or whoever you are get your facts straight. This guy must be punished for killing people when found guilty. Down with terrorism.
If this guy is out this whole anti terror rehtoric by govt is a lie. He directed on the phone his attackers to kill children during Mumbai attack. He is no different from Peshawar attackers.
How this case is handled will show exactly how determined PML-N is to fulfill its promise of exterminating terrorism once and for all.