Pakistan's Punjab govt challenges 26/11 mastermind Lakhvi's release in SC, seeks his detention

Lahore: Pakistan's Punjab government on Tuesday challenged Lahore High Court's decision to suspend the detention of LeT operations commander and 2008 Mumbai attack mastermind Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi in the Supreme Court, saying his release has created problems for them.

The Punjab government told the apex court that Lahore High Court freed Lakhvi under the Maintenance of Public Ordinance despite seeing "sensitive documents" against him. The government said the release of 55-year-old Lakhvi had created problems for them.

"Besides, there are chances that the investigation into the Mumbai-attack case may also be affected because Lakhvi's release," the government argued in its petition.

It requested the apex court to suspend the order and restore the detention of Lakhvi under the Security Act.

Lahore High Court Justice Muhammad Anwarul Haq had on April 9 suspended Lakhvi's detention as the government failed to present "sensitive documents" against him in the court.

The government's counsel presented "sensitive reports" prepared by intelligence agencies about Lakhvi's activities but the judge was not satisfied, observing "reasons cited by the government for the petitioner’s detention were not enough".

On April 10, Lakhvi was released from Adiala Jail Rawalpindi after six years in the Mumbai-attack case.

The government managed to keep him behind bars under the Security Act for nearly four months since the trial court granted him bail on December 14, 2014.

Pakistan faced strong criticism from India over Lakhvi's release. India has questioned Pakistan's commitment to fight terrorism.

Lakhvi and six others have been charged with planning and executing the 2008 Mumbai attacks that killed 166 people and wounded over 300.