Pakistan

Punjab govt challenges Lakhvi's release in Supreme Court

Punjab govt pleaded the apex court to declare the LHC order illegal and unconstitutional.

Rana Tanveer April 14, 2015

PHOTO: NDTV

LAHORE: The Punjab government on Tuesday challenged the order of the Lahore High Court (LHC) wherein it suspended the detention orders of alleged Mumbai attack mastermind Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi.

The Punjab government challenged the order before the Supreme Court, pleading the top court to set it aside.

On April 6, a single bench of the LHC ordered to release Lakhvi after suspending detention orders issued by DCO Okara issued under three maintenance of public orders (MPO).

Read: ATC directed to conclude Lakhvi’s trial within 2 months

The Punjab government appealed that the LHC ordered to release Lakhvi without realising the sensitivity of the secret information presented against him in court. The appeal said that Lakhvi's release would affect the trial since it may influence the statements that the prosecution’s witnesses planned to record against him. The appeal further stated that there may be further unrest in the country following Lakhvi's release.

Read: LHC orders Lakhvi’s release

Punjab government pleaded the apex court to declare the LHC order illegal and unconstitutional.

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on April 13 had directed the anti-terrorism court (ATC) to wrap up the Lakhvi trial within two months and subsequently submit a report before the court.

Read: Govt told to produce ‘secret’ files on Lakhvi

Lakhvi has been under detention for over five years over allegations of his involvement in Mumbai attacks in 2008, which left 166 people dead.

Last month, the Punjab government detained Lakhvi before he could be released from jail after a court ordered his release.

Read: LHC seeks Punjab’s reply in Lakhvi’s case

He was granted bail by an anti-terror court in December, a move that infuriated New Delhi. Amid outrage over the possible release of the alleged terror mastermind, Pakistan quickly slapped him with a detention order under the “Maintenance of Public Order”.

COMMENTS (5)

SKChadha | 9 years ago | Reply This action is making fool of own vote bank and not the entire world. Entire world knows that he is not charged with basic sections of CRIMINAL CONSPIRACY by GOP. Further, India could supply the evidence of period after the actual action on conspiracy started in Mumbai. The period of hatching of Conspiracy runs over a year prior to 26/11. Pakistan has deliberately did not place such evidences so far before the Court i.e. evidences of purchase of boats, their engines, ammunition supplied in Pakistan, money trail part of expenses in Pakistan etc. Please make a fair trial or else it will further tarnish image of Pakistan as in case of OBL.

Haider | 9 years ago | Reply @Indian First you need to listen Government and courts are different things.Whenever Court has freed him government has tried to detain him.If Indians want Lakhvi punished sincerely give us more evidences solid evidences so without any doubt he should be punished

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Indian | 9 years ago | Reply No In-out-In-out. If your sincere then put him behind bars permanently and don't give him royal treatment. He isn't a hero he is a villain how murdered innocent civilians.

Haroon | 9 years ago | Reply @Appan: well said

Appan | 9 years ago | Reply let us welcome this move of the Government. Let us also hope that this is not another game of "you pretend to beat me and I pretend to cry". If the Government takes a decisive stand, and get the monster and butcher punished, it will be a great achievement.

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