ISLAMABAD-
Government has extended the detention orders of alleged mastermind of Mumbai attacks Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi for another 30 days under the 16 Maintenance of Public Order (MPO),Islamabad High Court(IHC) was told on Monday, private media reported.
While hearing the plea filed by Lakhvi against his detention under MPO, IHC asked government to submit its response over Lakhvi’s detention.
During the hearing, Deputy Commissioner (DC) Islamabad Mujahid Sher Dil informed the court that Lakhvi’s detention had been extended by the government under 16 MPO for another 30 days.
Next hearing of the case is adjourned till January 26.
Meanwhile, a division bench of the ATC Islamabad, comprising Justice Noorul Haq N. Qureshi and Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui, resumed the hearing on a plea filed by the government against granting of bail to Lakhvi.
FIA Special Prosecutor Mohammad Azhar Chaudhry told the court that Pakistan and India had demanded the handing over of Lakhvi to India.
Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui replied that this was a diplomatic issue which needs to be addressed by the government.
On the suggestion to transfer the case to military court, state prosecutor Azhar Chaudhry said that sending cases to military courts was the discretion of interior ministry.
On the absence of accused from today’s hearing, the court reissued a notice summoning Lakhvi and also instructed Adiala Jail superintendent to ensure that the court summons were received by the accused.
Last month, an anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Islamabad granted bail to Lakhvi. The federal government had, however, detained Lakhvi under MPO.
On December 26, the IHC had suspended the detention and the federal government had challenged the IHC’s order in the Supreme Court.
On Jan 7, the apex court had restored the detention order and had remanded the case back to the IHC with directives to decide the matter after hearing all stakeholders in the case.
Lakhvi was taken into custody by the federal government in 2009 after being accused for November 2008 Mumbai attacks, in which 166 people were killed.
