Lakhvi remanded in 14 days' judicial custody

Mumbai terror attack mastermind Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi was sent to 14 days' judicial remand in an abduction case Thursday by a court here, Dawn online reported.

The order came as Lakhvi's two-day physical remand in the kidnapping case expired today. The physical remand was ordered when Lakhvi was awaiting release as the Islamabad High Court (IHC) suspended his detention under the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) law.

Although police asked the judicial magistrate for a five-day physical remand, the court ordered Lakhvi to a 14-day judicial remand. He will be presented in court again Jan 15.

On Dec 29, a second first information report (FIR) was lodged against the alleged 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks mastermind in Islamabad. According to the FIR, Lakhvi was said to be involved in the abduction of a man named Anwar six-and-half years ago.

Lakhvi's counsel Rizwan Abbasi argued that his client has been imprisoned for the past six years and could not possibly be responsible for kidnapping Anwar.

He said that a false FIR was registered against his client and a bogus case has been created as a result of India's pressure on the Pakistani government. The case against his client has no foundation, he added.

Abbasi said his client was granted bail by the Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) and the government was using false reasoning to keep Lakhvi behind bars.

Earlier Thursday, the federal government challenged in the Supreme Court the Islamabad High Court's order which suspended Lakhvi's detention under the MPO.

The detention order was issued by the Islamabad district administration soon after an Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) granted him post-arrest bail in the 26/11 Mumbai attacks case Dec 18. His detention orders under the MPO were issued the same day.

Lakhvi is among the seven people charged with planning and helping to carry out the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks.

The six other men facing trial for their alleged involvement are Hammad Amin Sadiq, Shahid Jamil Riaz, Younas Anjum, Jamil Ahmed, Mazhar Iqbal and Abdul Majid.

At the time of the attacks, Lakhvi was believed to be the operational head of the banned Laskhar-e-Taiba (LeT) that has been accused by India of being the perpetrator.

Lakhvi, along with Zarar Shah, was allegedly the key planner of the attack that killed 166 people and left over 300 injured in Mumbai.