26/11 mastermind Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi to remain in jail, Pakistan Supreme Court rejects bail order

Islamabad: Pakistan's Supreme Court on Wednesday overturned the Islamabad High Court (IHC) order regarding the release of 26/11 mastermind Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi. The case has been remanded back to the IHC on the ground that the decision of Lakhvi's release was rushed.

While giving its observations, the apex court maintained that the high court must hear the arguments of both parties - Lakhvi and the federal government - with sufficient time. Pakistan media reports said that the case will be heard again on Monday next week in the Islamabad High Court.

Lashkar-e-Toiba operations commander Lakhvi was on Tuesday summoned by a Pakistani court to appear for hearing. The summons were issued after the Paksitani government's appeal against his bail in the 26/11 case.

A two-member bench of the Islamabad High Court headed by Justice Shaukat Siddiqui admitted the government's plea against the Anti-Terrorism Court's decision to grant bail to Lakhvi. "The court summoned Lakhvi for arguments in the case on next hearing and issued a notice to him in this regard," Prosecution Chief Chaudhry Azhar said.

The prosecution informed the court in its petition that an Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) ignored testimony in the 26/11 case while granting bail to Lakhvi. On December 18, 2014, the ATC granted bail to Lakhvi, who was involved in planning, financing and executing the Mumbai terror attacks in November 2008 but was detained under the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO).

However, Islamabad High Court judge Noorul Haq Qureshi suspended Lakhvi's detention under MPO, evoking a strong reaction from India.

Just before he was to be released, Lakhvi was arrested on charges of kidnapping Afghan national Muhammad Anwar Khan. The police kept him at the Shalimar Police station for a two-day physical remand before a magistrate sent him back to Adiala Jail on Monday for a 14-day judicial custody.

Lakhvi and six others - Abdul Wajid, Mazhar Iqbal, Hamad Amin Sadiq, Shahid Jameel Riaz, Jamil Ahmed and Younis Anjum - have been charged with planning and executing the Mumbai attacks in November, 2008 that left 166 people dead.

Lakhvi was arrested in December 2008 and was indicted along with the six others on November 25, 2009 in connection with the case. The trial has been underway since 2009.

(With additional information from PTI)