A two-member bench of Islamabad High Court (IHC), comprising Justice Noorul Haq N Qureshi and Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui, has ordered the trial court to complete the case proceedings of Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, alleged mastermind in Mumbai attack, within two months.
In the hearing of the petition filed by Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) seeking cancellation of Lakhvi’ bail plea, prosecutor Chaudhry Azhar appeared on FIA’s behalf and Rizwan Abbasi advocate represented Lakhvi in the court.
Accusing the defence counsels of employing “dilatory tactics”, the prosecutor said that Lakhvi’s case was pending hearing in trial court because the counsels for the accused were not appearing in court. He added that 22 witnesses have yet to record their statements and they have to record their evidence against the accused in the trial court. He therefore requested the court to annul Lakhvi’s bail plea accepted by an anti terrorism court (ATC).
“No accused can be arrested on mere statements and allegations. Lakhvi’s bail plea has already been accepted, therefore, both the parties should appear in the trial court and complete proceedings of the case,” the court remarked.
Directing case completion within two months, the court ordered the contending counsels to appear before trial court. However, the petition seeking bail plea’s cancellation will remain under hearing unless the case is decided in trial court.
The court also asked the contending parties to approach bench if a party uses dilatory tactics. Moreover, an application could be filed in court in case of an emergent situation.
