The Islamabad High Court on Tuesday issued a notice to Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi - the main accused in the 2008 Mumbai terrorists attack case, in a petition challenging Lakhvi's bail. A Division bench of the high court comprising Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui and Justice Amir Farooq heard a writ petition filed by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) against the decision of Anti Terrorism Court (ATC) Islamabad which granted post-arrest bail to Lakhvi.
During the course of proceedings, the court while issuing a notice to Lakhvi sought a written reply from the accused in the matter. Special Prosecutor for FIA Chaudhry Azhar pleaded before the court that ATC had ignored evidence provided by prosecution against Lakhvi and issued a verdict in haste in the matter. He apprised the court that prosecution and witnesses against the accused are being threatened due to which statements of only 50 witnesses were recorded.
The court asked why the trial of the case is still pending despite the passage of five years; the FIA's prosecutor replied that the accused has filed multiple applications in the ATC, which resulted in a delay of the matter. Lakhvi was granted post-arrest bail by an anti-terrorism court (ATC) Islamabad on December 18, but the federal government has extended his detention for three months in Adilia prison under Section 3 of the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO). The Islamabad High Court (IHC) suspended Lakhvi's detention and ordered his conditional release. However, barely hours after his release, a First Investigation Report was registered against Lakhvi at the Golra Police Station Islamabad over alleged abduction of a man, Anwar Khan. Presently, Lakhvi is detained in Adilia Jail on a 14-day judicial remand in a kidnapping case.
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